Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues
Blind Lemon JeffersonThis song is not visible until approved and confirmed by Admin
Language: English
Take Fort Worth for your dressing and take Dallas all for your style
Take Fort Worth for your dressing, Dallas all for your style
If you wanna go to the state penitentiary, go to Groesbeck (1) for your trial
I hung around Groesbeck, and I worked in showers of rain
I say, I hung around Groesbeck, I worked in hard showers of rain
I never felt the least bit uneasy, till I caught that penitentiary bound train
I used to be a drunkard, I was rowdy everywhere I go
I used to be a drunkard and rowdy everywhere I go
If I ever get out of this trouble I'm in, I won't be rowdy no more
Boys, don't be bad, please don't crowd your mind
I said, boys, don't be bad and please don't crowd your mind
If you happen to get in trouble in Groesbeck, they're gonna send you penitentiary flyin'
I want you to stop and study, and don't take nobody's life
I want you to stop and study, don't take nobody's life
They've got walls at the state penitentiary you can't jump, man, they high as the sky
Take Fort Worth for your dressing, Dallas all for your style
If you wanna go to the state penitentiary, go to Groesbeck (1) for your trial
I hung around Groesbeck, and I worked in showers of rain
I say, I hung around Groesbeck, I worked in hard showers of rain
I never felt the least bit uneasy, till I caught that penitentiary bound train
I used to be a drunkard, I was rowdy everywhere I go
I used to be a drunkard and rowdy everywhere I go
If I ever get out of this trouble I'm in, I won't be rowdy no more
Boys, don't be bad, please don't crowd your mind
I said, boys, don't be bad and please don't crowd your mind
If you happen to get in trouble in Groesbeck, they're gonna send you penitentiary flyin'
I want you to stop and study, and don't take nobody's life
I want you to stop and study, don't take nobody's life
They've got walls at the state penitentiary you can't jump, man, they high as the sky
(1) piccolo centro a sud di Dallas, sede del tribunale della contea di Limestone.
Contributed by Marcello Tagliabue - 2025/12/12 - 21:39
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Blind Lemon Jefferson utilizza questo blues per dare dei consigli ai suoi amici e ai suoi ascoltatori: se vogliono finire nel penitenziario statale, meglio avere il processo a Groesbeck. Li invita poi a stare in guardia, a stare attenti a non finire in galera, perché poi è difficilissimo uscirne ('il penitenziario ha muri alti come il cielo, che non potete superare').