JAILHOUSE BLUES
(Clarence Williams / Bessie Smith 1923)

recorded by -
Bessie Smith 1923
Dinah Washington 1958


as recorded by Dinah Washington
with orchestra conducted by Eddie Chamblee


What you say, the joint's raided!
Oh no no no, I can't spend no thirty days in jail!
Oh no no please Mister Jailer!
Well if you say so, and I just have to get ready, yes sir, yes sir, mm, mm-mm!
It's gonna be a hard time sweetie, but I guess mother's gotta make it!

Mmmm, thirty days in jail with my back turned to the wall, turned to the wall,
Thirty days in jail with my back turned to the wall,
Look here Mister Jail Keeper, put another gal in my stall!

Don't mind bein' in jail, but I gotta stay there so long, mm so long,
Don't mind bein' in jail, but I gotta stay there so long, mm-mm so long,
Ev'ry prisoner here done shook hands and gone!

Girl friend you'd better stop your man from ticklin' me under my chin, under my chin,
You'd better hear me, stop your man from ticklin' me under my chin, mm-mm,
'Cause if he keeps on ticklin', I sure gonna pick on him!

Good mornin' blues, blues how do you do?
Said good mornin' blues, blues how do you do?
I'm so glad that only thirty more days I gotta stick with you!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - March 2019)