Slaid Cleaves - Arnold Nash Lyrics

He was a good prisoner, a bad citizen
A terrible family man
Living a life of crime, just do the math
Half his life in prison
The other half on the run
I'll tell you all the story of Arnold Nash

I got a call from the warden
When they found the empty cell
I said, I'm retired, but I'll tell you what I know
Most men do their time
Wishing they were back at home
But Arnold, well, he's got no place to go

We were buddies back in grade school
He'd come to the house and play
No one knows what set him on his path
Some would say a broken home
Can turn a good kid bad
Some insist he was never more than trash

In '81 my dad was sheriff
And I aimed to fill his shoes
As Arnold was starting up his own career
He'd work twice as hard at stealing
Than he would at an honest job
He'd take anything from dope to fishing gear

He was a good prisoner, a bad citizen
A terrible family man
Living a life of crime, just do the math
Half a life in prison
The other half on the run
This here is the story of Arnold Nash

Well, I chased him through the woods of Maine
A good many times
Once through a driving snow in his stocking feet
He'd be locked up for a while
A year or two at most
And then he'd be right back out on the street

He was a burglar and a thief
With two escapes to boot
In '91 he crossed over the line
He beat to death his neighbor
For a VA check to cash
And so Arnold went up state for the big time

[instrumental]

With a 45-year sentence
He thought he was in for good
He spent a quarter century inside
And for his good behavior
They shaved off 18 years
They said, Arnold, you'll soon pack your bags and ride

So I reassured the warden
No need to worry, son
This old prisoner, he won't be going far
Sure enough, when he got hungry
He come out of the shady woods
Walked right up to the blue state trooper's car

These days I'm in retirement
And I guess old Nash is too
And I know what he saw on the Bangor Road
He saw comfort in that cruiser
Saw three squares and a bed
Relieved to come to the end of this episode

He was a good prisoner, a bad citizen
A terrible family man
Living a life of crime, just do the math
Half a life in prison
The other half on the run
Now you all know the story of Arnold Nash
Now I've told the true story of Arnold Nash