Ol’ RedOl’ RedCaught my wife with another manCaught my wife with another manNow I'm doin' ninety-nineNow I'm doin' ninety-nineAt a prison farm down in GeorgiaAt a prison farm down in GeorgiaClose to the Florida line.Close to the Florida line.

I've been here for twelve long yearsI've been here for twelve long yearsAnd I finally made the warden my friendAnd I finally made the warden my friendSo he sentenced me to a life of easeSo he sentenced me to a life of easeTakin' care of ol' Red.Takin' care of ol' Red.

Now ol' red he's a dangerous dogNow ol' red he's a dangerous dogThis old boy has ever seenThis old boy has ever seenHe's got a nose that can smell a two day He's got a nose that can smell a two day trailtrailLord, he's a four legged tracking Lord, he's a four legged tracking machine.machine.

Just consider yourself mighty luckyJust consider yourself mighty luckyTo get past the gators and the quicksand To get past the gators and the quicksand bedsbedsBut all these years that I've been hereBut all these years that I've been hereAin't nobody got past Red.Ain't nobody got past Red.

I hear the warden say,I hear the warden say,Come on somebody why don't you runCome on somebody why don't you runOl' Red's a-itchin' to have a little funOl' Red's a-itchin' to have a little funGet my latern, get my gunGet my latern, get my gunRed'll have 'em treed 'fore the mornin' Red'll have 'em treed 'fore the mornin' sun.sun.

I paid off a guard and he slipped out a letterI paid off a guard and he slipped out a letterTo my cousin in TennesseeTo my cousin in TennesseeAnd he brought down me a blue tick houndAnd he brought down me a blue tick houndLord, she was pretty as she could be.Lord, she was pretty as she could be.

They penned her up in the swamplandThey penned her up in the swamplandAbout a mile just south of the gateAbout a mile just south of the gateAnd when I take ol' Red for his evening runAnd when I take ol' Red for his evening runAnd I'd just drop him off and wait.And I'd just drop him off and wait.

I hear the warden say,I hear the warden say,Come on somebody why don't you runCome on somebody why don't you runOl' Red's a-itchin' to have a little funOl' Red's a-itchin' to have a little funGet my latern, get my gunGet my latern, get my gunRed'll have 'em treed 'fore the mornin' sun.Red'll have 'em treed 'fore the mornin' sun.

Now old red got use to seein' Now old red got use to seein' This little lady.there every nightThis little lady.there every nightSo I kept him away for three or fours daysSo I kept him away for three or fours daysAnd waited till the time got right.And waited till the time got right.

I made my run with the evening sunI made my run with the evening sunAnd I smiled when I heard 'em let him outAnd I smiled when I heard 'em let him out'Cause I headed north to Tennessee'Cause I headed north to TennesseeAnd ol' Red was a-headed south.And ol' Red was a-headed south.

I hear the warden say,I hear the warden say,Come on somebody why don't you runCome on somebody why don't you runOl' Red's a-itchin' to have a little funOl' Red's a-itchin' to have a little funGet my latern, get my gunGet my latern, get my gunRed'll have 'em treed 'fore the mornin' sun.Red'll have 'em treed 'fore the mornin' sun.

Now, there's red hair blue ticks dogs in the southNow, there's red hair blue ticks dogs in the southLove got me in there and love got me out...Love got me in there and love got me out...