Freak
Paul Cauthen Lyrics

Out there in east Texas
The singer sets the scene for the story he is about to tell.

You get pulled over and have that devils lettuce on ya
If you're caught with marijuana in East Texas, you'll be sent to jail.

You get thrown behind the big wall
Being incarcerated is a possibility if you're caught with marijuana.

You meet a lot of characters there in jail
There are many different people in jail, each with their own unique stories.

Let me tell you about ′em
The artist is going to share some of the stories of the people he met in jail.

Rough and rowdy
Some of the people in jail are tough and violent.

Tall and mean
Other inmates are imposing and intimidating.

Them red and blues there taking me
The artist is being transported to jail, likely in a sheriffs car with red and blue flashing lights.

Down to county
The artist is being taken to the local county jail.

On elm street
The county jail is located on Elm Street.

With all the freaks
The singer refers to the other inmates in jail as "freaks".

Beats washing dishes there serving me
The artist finds being in jail and having meals provided for him easier than working as a dishwasher.

Three square meals and a place to sleep
Being in jail provides the singer with three meals a day and a place to sleep.

Clearing my mind on the inside with all the freaks
The singer finds solace in jail, where he can clear his mind, despite the company he is forced to keep.

Freaks like me
The singer sees himself as one of the "freaks" in jail.

Well Tommy got pinched at the strip mall
The artist tells the story of Tommy, who was arrested at a strip mall.

Had an itch till the law broke his fall
Tommy may have been up to something illegal or dangerous and getting caught by the law prevented him from making a big mistake.

Six months in jail no one to call he's just a freak
Tommy is in jail for six months, with no friends or family to call for help while he serves his time.

A freak like me
Tommy and the singer both see themselves as "freaks".

Tell ′em something about it Austin
The artist turns to someone named Austin, perhaps to continue the story or add their own perspective.

Well Reverend now preaching good news
The artist starts a new story about a Reverend who is preaching positive messages.

Lost his flock they flew the coop
The Reverend has lost the people he was preaching to.

She wanted heaven but she couldn't do
Someone who attended the Reverend's services wanted to go to Heaven but was unable to do so.

Now he's in false heaven on child support due
The Reverend is now in a false sense of paradise, perhaps because he is burdened with child support payments.

Facing the devil answering his call
The Reverend is dealing with his own personal demons, perhaps related to his financial and personal struggles.

Using his vessel it′s never enough
The Reverend is using his platform to preach but it's never enough to solve his problems.

Cause Tommy′s got issues and so does big al
Tommy isn't the only one in jail with problems; other inmates like big Al are also struggling.

Cause they're all freaks
The artist sees all the inmates in jail as "freaks", including those he hasn't met yet.

Yeah freaks like me
The artist feels a sense of camaraderie with the other inmates because they are all "freaks" in his eyes.

Well I finish my time singing my songs
The singer is finishing his sentence and playing music to pass the time.

Tip jar′s out come sing along
The singer invites others to join in his music-making.

Weather on the inside or out here free there ain't no hidin
Whether in jail or free, people can't hide from themselves or their problems.

From a freak like me
The artist sees himself as a "freak" who can offer some insight and perspective to others.

Yeah a freak like me
The artist sees himself as unique and different from others, but in a positive way.

Freak like me
The chorus emphasizes that the singer and other inmates are all "freaks" in their own way.

From a freak like me
The artist continues to see himself as an individual, but still part of the larger group of "freaks".

From a freak like me
The message of the song is that we are all a little bit different and unique, and that's okay.

Freak like me
The "freaks" of the world should stick together and support one another.