Well dad said son don't you be a fool

Stay away from that old brown mule

He's mean as a snake and twice as quick

Oh but always that kind that had to be shown

I couldn't listen I couldn't be told

Even way back then I had to get my kicks



Yeah I been a rebel and it don't pay

There ain't no future in livin' this way

It ain't worth the trouble and I've tried to change

Yeah I done it the hard way all my life

It's cost me plenty too many times

I been a rebel and it don't pay



If there's a bump in the road well I hit 'em all

You don't really learn 'til you hit a brick wall

Back up and say man I could'a gone around that

Yeah sometimes I wish I could just go along

But that hard headed streak's just a little too long

Gettin' first hand knowledge and goin' nowhere fast



Yeah I been a rebel and it don't pay

There ain't no future in livin' this way

It ain't worth the trouble and I've tried to change

Yeah I done it the hard way all my life

It's cost me plenty too many times

I been a rebel and it don't pay



Yeah I been a rebel and it don't pay

There ain't no future in livin' this way

It ain't worth the trouble and I've tried to change

Yeah I done it the hard way all my life

It's cost me plenty too many times

I been a rebel and it don't pay