Week in a Country Jail
Tom T. Hall
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One time I spent a week inside a little country jail And I don't guess I'll ever live it down I was sittin' at a red light when these two men came and got me And said that I was speeding through their town Well, they said,tomorrow morning you can see the judge then go. They let me call one person on the phone I thought I'd be there overnight so I just called my boss To tell him I'd be off but not for long Well, they motioned me inside a cell with seven other guys One little barred up window in the rear My cellmates said if they had let me bring some money in We ought to send the jailer for some beer Well, I had to pay him double 'cause he was the man in charge And the jailer's job was not the best in town Later on his wife brought hot bologna, eggs and gravy The first day I was there I turned it down Well, next morning they just let us sleep but I was up real early Wonderin' when I'd get my release Later on we got more hot bologna, eggs and gravy And by now I wasn't quite so hard to please Two days later when I thought that I had been forgotten The sheriff came in chewin' on a straw He said, where is the guy who thinks that this is indianapolis? I'd like to talk to him about the law. Well, I told him who I was and told him I was working steady And I really should be gettin' on my way That part about me bein' who I was did not impress him He said, the judge'll be here any day. The jailer had a wife and let me tell you she was awful But she brought that hot bologna every day And after seven days she got to lookin' so much better I asked her if she'd like to run away The next mornin' that old judge took every nickel that I had And he said, son, let this teach you not to race. The jailer's wife was smilin' from the window as I left In thirty minutes I was out of state
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Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Artist"A Week in a Country Jail" is performed by Tom T. Hall, a celebrated American country music songwriter and singer.
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Chart TopperUpon its release in 1970, the song climbed to number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles, asserting Halls' influential status in the genre.
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Song ClassificationIt's a country song, which means it employs elements typical of the genre like storytelling lyrics, acoustic instrumentation, and a rural, down-home vibe.
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InspirationHall often drew inspiration from his life experiences, and "A Week in a Country Jail" is believed to be based on a real-life event when he was arrested for hunting without a license.
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Signature Singing StyleThe song reflects Hall's conversational storytelling style that resonates with listeners and solidifies his reputation as "The Storyteller".
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Album Release"A Week in a Country Jail" is also the title track of Tom T. Hall's third studio album, released in 1970.
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Prolific Artistic CareerThe success of "A Week in a Country Jail" further cemented Tom T. Hall's career. He went on to write numerous top-rated hits and won a Grammy Award.
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LyricsThe song's lyrics narrate a man's experience of spending a week in a country jail, portraying the mundane life inside and the longing for freedom.
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Song Length"A Week in a Country Jail" runs for about 3 minutes, which is typical for most country music songs of that era.
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LegacyEven though "A Week in a Country Jail" is over 50 years old, it is still widely respected and recognised as one of the emblematic works of '70s country music.
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Citation
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"Week in a Country Jail Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5944631/Tom+T.+Hall/Week+in+a+Country+Jail>.
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