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Fish in the Jailhouse Lyrics

Peoria Johnson told Dudlow Joe
I can break out of any old jail you know
The bars are iron, the walls are stone
All I need me is an old fish bone

They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
Oh boy
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight

Corbina, opaleye hammer head shark
Steel head salmon or a mud bank carp
Sand me one side dull, whittle the other side sharp
By Saturday night, I'll be in central park

They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
Oh boy
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight

Ask Little Son Jackson or the 44 Kid
Or Whitfield Faraday what I did
From Yazoo city down to Rollin Fork
From Natchez to Kinosha,
From New Dime to New York

They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
Oh boy
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight

Gimme a nice totuava or a chicken of the sea
I'm gonna fashion me a fishbone skeleton key
Tell Skullion Childs I won't be late
You can bet your freedom
I'm gonna clean my plate
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Cover art for Fish in the Jailhouse lyrics by Tom Waits

This song kills me. Here's this old jailbird who makes skeleton keys out of fishbones &, sure as fate, the idiots in charge of the jail serve him up a nice fish supper. Every time! No wonder he says "Oh boy" & cleans his plate. Wonderful clamorous sound & funny too.

 
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