Once I had me a woman

Well, everything was goin' my way

She thought I had hung the moon, and she had an angel's face

Till one night I pulled in my drive and somethin' was goin' on

There was a long bed Ford in my spot that I damn sure didn't own

I walked up to the screen door

And I heard this awful noise

Well, I moved on to the livin' room and there sat my two boys

Well, I said, "Where's Mama?" And they both pointed to the bedroom down the hall

And I ain't ever been a fightin' man, but red was all I saw

See, brother, 'cause I been down and I been out and I know how it feels

To stand up for what you think is right then get knocked off your heels

And if murderin' a man who didn't understand just what she meant to me

Means I'll rot here in this cell for eternity

Well then, mister, I'm as guilty as can be

Well, I wish I had me a picture

Of what his face looked like

When I kicked in my bedroom door and raised my .45

I said, "I ain't the kind to hurt a woman, and I hope you understand

But somebody's got to die today, son, it looks like you're the man"

See, brother, 'cause I been down and I been out and I know how it feels

To stand up for what you think is right then get knocked off your heels

And if murderin' a man who didn't understand just what she meant to me

Means I'll rot here in this cell for eternity

Well then, mister, I'm as guilty as can be, yeah

That's what I told that jury

That's what I told that judge

And I knew there'd be hell to pay if I fulfilled my grudge

See, I don't mind these prison bars tucked off in these pine trees

One thing about that cheatin' woman, she won't cheat again on me

See, brother, now I been down and I been out and I know how it feels

To stand up for what you think is right and get knocked off your heels

And if murderin' a man who didn't understand just what she meant to me

Means I'll rot here in this cell for eternity

Well then, mister, I'm as guilty as can be

I said if murderin' a man who didn't understand just what she meant to me

Means I'll rot here in this cell for eternity

Well then, mister, I'm as guilty as can be

Yeah, go ahead and lock me up, boys

I'm guilty anyways