He was born and raised around Jacksonville A nice young man, not the kind to k** But a jealous fight and a flashing blade Sent him on the run to the Everglades Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades Now, the posse went in and they came back out They said he'll die and there ain't no doubt It's an eye for an eye so the debt is paid He won't last long in the Everglades A man can't live in the Everglades Where a man can hide and never be found And have no fear of the bayin' hounds But he better keep movin' and don't stand still If the 'skeeters don't get him then the 'gaters will Now, the years went by and his girl was wed His fam'ly gave him up for dead
But now and then the natives would say They'd seen him runnin' through the Everglades Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades Now, he never heard the news on the radio He was deep in the 'glades so he'll never know His runnin' and hidin' didn't make much sense For the jury had ruled it was self-defense Running like a dog through the Everglades Where a man can hide and never be found And have no fear of the bayin' hounds But he better keep movin' and don't stand still If the 'skeeters don't get him then the 'gaters will Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades Skippin' like a frog through the slimy bog Runnin' through the trees from the Everlys