James Carter & The Prisoners
James Carter is credited as a performer on the soundtrack of the film O Bro… Read Full Bio ↴James Carter is credited as a performer on the soundtrack of the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, despite not being a professional singer.

As of 1959, Carter was serving time at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Lambert for charges unknown. In a southern field excursion at Camp B, Carter and the other prisoners in his chain gang were spending the day chopping wood. Carter began singing an old spiritual, "Po' Lazarus", and the other prisoners joined in, chopping the logs in time to the music. Folk music historian Alan Lomax happened to be present at the time, and was able to take a photograph of the prisoners and make a recording of the music, which he donated to a music archive.

Decades later, the recording was purchased for use in the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, which went on to win a Grammy for Album of the Year. During this, it was discovered by the producers that Carter was still alive, and they successfully tracked him down. Despite never seeing the film and, understandably, not even remembering the song he had sung over 40 years previous, Carter was pleased with the album's success, and was present at the benefit concert held in Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, which featured repeat performances by the other performers from the soundtrack (although Carter himself did not perform).

As the other prisoners have not been identified (and likely never will be), the official credit for the artist on the soundtrack is for "James Carter & the Prisoners".

Carter died November 26, 2003, in Chicago, at age 77
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James Carter & The Prisoners Lyrics


01-Po Lazarus Well, the high sheriff He told his deputy Want you go out…
Big Rock Candy Mountain One evening as the sun went down And the jungle fire…
Po Well, the high sheriff He told his deputy "Want you go out…
Po Lazarus Well, the high sheriff He told his deputy "Want you go out…
Po' Lazarus Well, the high sheriff He told his deputy "Want you go out…
Po'lazarus Well, the high sheriff He told his deputy "Want you go out…
Po’ Lazarus Well, the high sheriff He told his deputy "Want you go out…


We have lyrics for these tracks by James Carter:


'Round Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
Almost Love Almost love, love Almost love, love We were lovers in the s…
Can’t Forget You Down, down, down like I never met ya Round, round, round…
COLD It feels so cold whenever I'm around you Ever I'm …



Heaven The colours don't look the same now I'm alone I mu…
I'll Never Be The Same I'll never be the same Stars have lost their meaning for…
Lovers Say Goodbye It's the middle of the night What the fuck I'm gonna…
More Than You Know Whether you are here or yonder, Whether you are false…
Older Now We took a taxi Sat in the backseat Said you won't leave…
On My High Only one thing on my mind leaves me restless Only one…
Po' Lazarus Well the high sheriff, he told his deputy Won't you go…
Something About You (There's something about you) You keep my heart in the clou…
These Days This life ahead could be so sweet It's right within reach…


We have lyrics for these tracks by The Prisoners:


Nobody Wants Your Love You know you been doin' me wrong girl And you know…
Reaching My Head Feeling like a stranger In my own head tonight She told me…
Tomorrow I've gotta get a grip Where the hell is my peace…
Whenever I'm Gone I know the time to leave has come I've found an…
Wish The Rain Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain Telling me just…