Blind Lemon’s Penitentiary Blues Songtext
von Blind Lemon Jefferson

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 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