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 travel, 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
They won't let my secret go untold
I paid the debt I owed
But they're still not satisfied
Now I'm a branded man
Not in the cold
If I live to be a hundred
I guess they'll never clear my name
Cause everybody knows I've been in jail
No matter where I'm living
I 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
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
Not in the cold
Now I'm a branded man
Not in the cold