A 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
12 facts about this song
Song title and Artist"A Week in a Country Jail" is a popular song by American country music songwriter and singer Tom T. Hall.
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Release YearThe song was released in 1969.
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AlbumIt is part of Tom T. Hall's third studio album, 'Homecoming.'
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Chart AchievementUpon its release, "A Week in a Country Jail" clinched the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
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InspirationTom T. Hall reportedly wrote this song inspired by his own experience of spending a night in jail due to speed driving in the early '60s.
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Song CompositionThis song follows a storytelling style, a common trait in country music. It accurately portrays the narrative of a man's experience in a county jail, including details about the jailer, the jailer's wife, and the overall experience.
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Impact and Recognition"A Week in a Country Jail" secured Tom T. Hall's foothold as a country music artist and reinforced his identity as a 'storyteller,' earning him widespread recognition and fame.
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Lyrics WritingTom T. Hall is known for his distinctive voice and narrative-based lyrics. In this song, he used humor and relatability, which was well received by the audience.
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MusicalityThe song blends traditional country music elements with a catchy melody and a rhythmic scheme, embodying Hall's signature storytelling song style.
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Notable LyricsThe song's memorable opening lines, "One time I spent a week inside a little country jail, and I don't guess I'll ever live it down" set the tune for the amusing tale that comes thereafter.
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Cover VersionsMany other artists have covered this song due to its popularity, blending their distinctive styles with the original composition.
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Legacy"A Week in a Country Jail" remains one of Tom T. Hall's most well-known songs and is still beloved by fans of country music.
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Citation
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