County Jail Gate

[Verse 1] Two tons of steel grinding on the wheels It's a sound you'll never mistake As the buzzer rings, you're going to feel the sting As they open the county jail gate Once you're inside, there's no place to hide And you're left to your wits and your fate And there ain't no sound I've learned more to hate Than the sound of the county jail gate [Chorus] County jail gate County jail gate When you hear it, mister, it's too late The sound of the county jail gate [Verse 2] If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime That's a lesson that I learned real hard Just twelve years old when they first took me away 'Cause I done stole me a car Poor choices and regrets, well, I've had my share But the fault has really been mine Always thought I'd have years to spare But I'm just sitting here, doing time [Chorus] County jail gate County jail gate When you hear it, mister, it's too late The sound of the county jail gate [Instrumental Break] [Verse 3] My mother died when I was inside That's something I'll never forgive And wasted time's what's on my mind 'Cause this ain't no way to live She'd hoped one day that I'd change my ways And, kids, you should listen up here What started out as fun became a life on the run And turned into nothing but fear [Chorus] County jail gate County jail gate When you hear it, mister, it's too late The sound of the county jail gate County jail gate County jail gate When you hear it, mister, it's too late You're behind the county jail gate