Now, the prison gate have opened, for me at last
Be more careful in the future, than I have been in the past
Know the life of a racketeer1, know the life of a crook
Know the life of a no-good woman, like a line from a book

Now, jailhouse got me, put down here without a friend
Well, now, I'm free at last, won't ever let them take me again

Had a girl one time, wouldn't work or steal
Broad came right out 'a Mississippi cotton field
She wouldn't steal, on the verge of a doubt
But she get you busted, wouldn't get you out

Now, jailhouse got me, put down here without a friend
Well, now, I'm free at last, won't ever let them take me again

Come down to your jail, think you all rich
Not to go to your bail, see how much time you gone get
When the judge sentence you, mighty near a smile
Know you'll be gone, for a long, long while

Now, jailhouse got me, put down here without a friend
Well, now, I'm free at last, won't ever let them take me again

After you up the river, 'bout a month or more
You receive a letter from that gal you used to know
'Bout three feet wide, nine page long
Whole lotta talk 'bout what's goin' on

Now, jailhouse got me, put down here without a friend
Well, now, I'm free at last, won't ever let them take me again

The letter said, "Daddy, things out here have gotten mighty tight
Had to rob two guys, before I could eat last night
Meant to send you some money, but to my suprise
I'd already sealed your letter, and the gum 'a had dried"

Now, jailhouse got me, put down here without a friend
Well, now, I'm free at last, won't ever let them take me again