In The Jailhouse, Now

Words & Music:

Jimmie Rodgers (1927)

 

Jay Buckey has arrangements of this on his site.  Be sure to add a yodel or two Also, it is transcribed in the April 2009 issue of Acoustic Guitar.

 

D

I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob who used to steal, gamble and rob.

D                                     G

He thought he was the smartest guy in town.

G

But, I found out last Monday that Bob got locked up Sunday.

        A              E                   A

They've got him in the jailhouse 'way down town.

 

CHORUS:

            D                            G

He's in the jailhouse, now.  He's in the jailhouse, now.

  A                                                         A7

I told him once or twice to quit playin' cards and shootin' dice.

            A          D

He's in the jailhouse, now.

 

He played a game called poker, pinochle with Dan Yoker.

But shootin' dice was his greatest game.

Now he's downtown in jail, nobody to go his bail.

The judge done said that he refused the fine.

 

CHORUS:

 

I went out last Tuesday, met a girl named Susie.

I told her I was the swellest guy around

We started to spend my money, then she started to call me "Honey".

We took in every cabaret in town.

 

CHORUS:  [new words:]

We're in the jailhouse, now.  We're in the jailhouse, now.

I told the judge right to his face, we didn't like to see this place.

So, we're in the jailhouse, now.