In The Jailhouse Now

(album: Guy Clark - 1978)

I had a friend named Bill Campbell
He used to rob, steal and gamble
And on the side he'd beg
So he mopped up

Well, I told ol' Billy shouldn't do it
And ol' Bill said that he knew it
So he started begging with a bucket
Instead of a cup

He's in the jailhouse now
He's in the jailhouse now
Now ol' Bill fluffed his dove
When he wrote a tuxedo to the country club
He's in the jailhouse now

Now Bill had a gal named Sadie
And she said have you seen Billy lately
No I don't believe that he's about

But ol' Sadie went down to the jail
It was just to pay his bail
Then she whispered
Sheriff please don't let him out

He's in the jailhouse now
He's in the jailhouse now
It was while ol' Bill's away
Sadie's with the sheriff everyday
He's in the jailhouse now

Oh, you remember the last election, yeah
The prohibitionists was in action
Trying to elect themselves a president

And Bill Campbell and John Austin
They rode from New Orleans to Boston
[?] bottle in every settlement

They're in the jailhouse now
They're in the jailhouse now
Lord they caught them down by the railroad track
Stealing a train to haul it back
They're in the jailhouse now