Stripes On My Back

D  A  D
D  A  D

          D
Well them 4 walls of Raiford are closing in on me
     A                             D
Doin 3-5 hard labor for armed robbery
       D
I have 2 years behind me, I could not wait the time
      A                                               D
Every time I thought about it well I died some more inside
          D
And I had stripes on my back and memories that hurt
    A                                           D
The only time I seen sunshine is when I went to work
        D
Diggin' ditches for the chain gang, sleepin' the hole
   A                                                 D
Oh Lord please forgive me for I could not wait for parole

              G                    D
And I'm comin home to see Jesus, I feel so close this time
            A                                           D
Please take mercy on a soldier from the Florida/Georgia line
          G                               D
When they find me they must kill me, Lord Jesus, save my soul
        A                                             D
I can't go back down to Raiford, I can't take that anymore


Well these last few years behind me, Oh Lord have been so sad
I fought proudly for my country when the times were bad
But now they say I'm guilty and when they find me I must die
Only me and Jesus know I never stole a dime
Well when Vietnam was over there was no work here for me
I had a pretty wife a-waitin' and 2 kids I had to feed
Well I'm one of America's heroes and when they shoot me down
Won't you fly Old Glory proudly, put my medals in the ground

Chorus