6 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Four Walls Of Raiford Lyrics
Well them four walls of Raiford, closing in on me
Doin' three to five hard labor, for armed robbery
I had two years behind, but I could not wait the time
Everytime I thought about it, well I died some more inside
And I had stripes on my back, memories that hurt
For the only time I seen sunshine is when I hit the dirt
Diggin' ditches for the chain gang, sleepin' in the cold
Oh Lord please forgive me for I could not wait no more
And I comin' home to see you Jesus
Well it feels so close this time
Please take mercy on this soldier
From the Florida-Georgia line
When they find me they must kill me
Oh Jesus save my soul
I can't go back down to Raiford
I can't take that anymore
Well these last few years behind me
Oh Lord, have been so sad
I fought proudly for my country when the times were bad
Now they say I'm guilty, when they find me I must die
Only me and Jesus know that I never stole a dime
Well when Vietnam was over there was no work here for me
I had a pretty wife awaitin and two kids I had to feed
Well I'm one of America's heroes and when they shoot me down
Won't fly old Glory proudly, put my medals in the ground
And I comin' home to see you Jesus
Well it feels so close this time
Please take mercy on this soldier
From the Florida-Georgia line
When they find me they must kill me
Oh Jesus save my soul
I can't go back down to Raiford
I can't take that anymore
The song pretty much explains itself.
A Vietnam veteren who takes to armed robbery to survive, gets caught and sent to Raiford Prison. He escapes...then goes on the run.
This song is depressing as hell.
This song reminds me of the movie Coolhand Luke. I heard this song after i saw the movie, and i thought it was about the movie. watch the movie, then listen to the song, youll see what i mean.
As far as the song goes, he didn't actually rob anything, was just accused and convicted of it.
Actually, he is Wrongly convicted, and can't stay in the pen to serve his sentence, and knows he is going to have to die because as he said "I can't take that anymore," which is a haunting lyric.
This is a really pretty song and shows why Ronnie Van Zant is truly one of the greats.
There is a huge error should be corrected: "Won't fly old Glory proudly, put my medals in the ground" should read: "Won't YOU fly old Glory proudly, put my medals in the ground"
Changes the whole meaning of the song. He's saying he loves the country but the misquote makes him sound like an ex-patriot.
raiford prison is where most of ronnie's friends wound up in jacksonville florida.