Branded Man Lyrics - Okie From Muskogee - Merle Haggard

I'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am 

But they won't let my secret go untold 

I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied 

Now I'm a branded man out in the cold 

When they let me out of prison, I held my head up high 

Determined I would rise above the shame 

But no matter where I'm living, the black mark follows me 

I'm branded with a number on my name 

I'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am 

But they won't let my secret go untold 

I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied 

Now I'm a branded man out in the cold 

If I live to be a hundred, I guess I'll never clear my name 

'Cause everybody knows I've been in jai 

No matter where I'm living, I've got to tell them where I've been 

Or they'll send me back to prison if I fail 

I'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am 

But they won't let my secret go untold 

I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied 

Now I'm a branded man out in the cold 

Now I'm a branded man out in the cold