Prison Blues

Words & Music:

Jimmy Page & Chris Farlow

 

This is a classic new blues song.  The "Outrider" recording is oozing with all the raw sexuality of a '59 Les Paul at its best in Jimmy Page's hands.  I've just given the basic blues structure as it applies to this song.  Pick your key, crank up your amp to "eleven", get those fingers ready for some sleazy bends and go...to...town!  Be sure to "stutter" the starting consonants when it seems appropriate, a la George Thorogood, as vocal fills.  (If anyone has tabbed this, I would love to see it!)

 

I   IV  I   V

 

I                             IV                 I

I've been a b-bad boy, baby.  I've been a bad boy all night long; oh, yes I have.

IV                                                              I

Yes, I've been a bad boy, honey.  I've been a bad boy all night long.

V                                  IV                   I  [turnaround of choice]

That woman, she don't even let me, she did not even telephone.

 

I'm gonna leave my little honey like a rabbit leaves the hole.

A-ow-ah leave my little honey baby, just like that little bunny rabbit leaves the hole.

I got a weasel in my pocket, I'm gonna stick that weasel down my mamma.

I'm gonna stick it down that little hole.

 

INSTRUMENTAL VERSE(S):

 

I'm never gonna get out of this prison, baby.

The only way I get out is climb over the wall.

Oh baby, the only way out is that I get a ladder and climb over the wall.

Well, I can't climb the ladder, baby, 'cause I'm afraid that I, that I might fall.

Come on, yeah!

 

I'm staying in this Folsom Prison, honey.

Yeah, I'm gonna stay in this prison 'til the day that I die.

Oh, I'll stay in Folsom Prison, baby, ooo, 'til the day, until the day that I die.

Hear more, I'm never killed nobody.

Oh, my baby, you know, you know that I'm staying alive.

 

V              bV  IV   [n.c. stop chord]                  I  [blues outro of choice]

'Cause I know, baby----, yeah, that's gonna be a great big lie.

[spoken over final chord: "You know, I'm livin' in this F-Fol' prison!"]

 





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