Jailer Bring Me Water
Bobby Darin Lyrics


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Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
My throat is kinda dry

Well, I never had me no money
Never had me no money
Never had me no money
I ain't that kinda guy

So, jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
My throat is kinda dry

I'm gonna work 'til the good Lord calls me
Be workin' 'til the good Lord calls me
I'm gonna work until the good Lord calls me
It'll be in the by and by

So, jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water
My throat is kinda dry

Now, jailer, should ya see my baby
Oh, jailer, if ya see my baby
Jailer, if you see my baby
Just tell her I said, "Goodbye"

Everybody singin'

Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
My throat is kinda dry

Ah, jailer, won't ya bring me some
Bring me water
Jailer, won't ya bring me some
Bring me water




Jailer, won't ya bring me water
My throat is kinda dry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Jailer Bring Me Water," as performed by Bobby Darin, envision the experience of a man who has ended up in jail, possibly for a petty crime, and is awaiting trial. The song's lyrics consist of the repeated request for water from the jailer, a lamentation of the singer's lack of money or resources to buy the water himself, and an assertion that he will work until the end of his days, even on the other side of life, to make up for his past. Jailer Bring Me Water can be interpreted as a commentary both on the institutions that punish individuals for their perceived misdeeds, as well as on the ways that poverty and scarcity shape individual lives in a system that unjustly distributes resources.


The song was originally written and recorded by Merle Kilgore, who was also known for his songwriting collaborations with Johnny Cash. It was later covered by a number of other artists, including Rick Nelson and Dolly Parton, among others. It was a minor hit for Bobby Darin, peaking at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1960.


Line by Line Meaning

Jailer, bring me water
Asking the jailer to bring some water


Jailer, bring me water
Repeating the request to bring water


Jailer, bring me water
Third repetition of the request to bring water


My throat is kinda dry
Giving the reason for the request to bring water


Well, I never had me no money
Admitting to never having much money


Never had me no money
Repeating the admission of not having much money


Never had me no money
Third repetition of the admission of not having much money


I ain't that kinda guy
Implying that the artist is not interested in material wealth


So, jailer, bring me water
Repeating the request for water


Jailer, bring me water
Asking the jailer to bring some water


Jailer, bring me water
Third repetition of the request to bring water


My throat is kinda dry
Giving the reason for the request to bring water


I'm gonna work 'til the good Lord calls me
Stating the determination to work hard for as long as possible


Be workin' 'til the good Lord calls me
Repeating the determination to work hard


I'm gonna work until the good Lord calls me
Third repetition of the determination to work hard


It'll be in the by and by
Referring to the future, when the artist will stop working


So, jailer, bring me water
Repeating the request for water


Jailer, bring me water
Asking the jailer to bring some water


Jailer, bring me water
Third repetition of the request to bring water


My throat is kinda dry
Giving the reason for the request to bring water


Now, jailer, should ya see my baby
Asking the jailer to deliver a message to the artist's loved one


Oh, jailer, if ya see my baby
Continuing the request for the jailer to deliver the message


Jailer, if you see my baby
Asking the jailer again to deliver the message


Just tell her I said, "Goodbye"
The message to be delivered to the artist's loved one


Everybody singin'
Transitioning to the chorus


Jailer, bring me water
Repeating the request for water in the chorus


Come on jailer, bring me
Encouraging the jailer to bring water


Jailer, bring me water
Repeating the request for water in the chorus


Come on jailer, bring me
Encouraging the jailer again to bring water


Jailer, bring me water
Third repetition of the request for water in the chorus


Come on jailer, bring me
Encouraging the jailer once again to bring water


My throat is kinda dry
Giving the reason for the request to bring water in the chorus


Ah, jailer, won't ya bring me some
Requesting for water in a playful manner


Bring me water
Repeating the playful request for water


Jailer, won't ya bring me some
Asking the jailer again for water


Bring me water
Repeating the request for water


Jailer, won't ya bring me water
Third and final request for water from the jailer


My throat is kinda dry
Giving the reason for the request to bring water




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby Darin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Wolfhoundersful

Jailer, bring me water [3x]
My throat is kind-a dry.
Well, I never had me no money
Never had me no money [2x]
I ain't that kind-a guy.

Oh, jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water [2x]
My throat is kind-a dry

I'm gonna work 'til the good Lord calls me
Be workin' 'til the good Lord calls me
I'm gonna work until the good Lord calls me
It'll be in the by and by.

Oh, jailer, bring me water
Jailer, bring me water [2x]
My throat is kind-a dry

Now, jailer, should ya see my baby
Jailer, if ya see my baby [2x]
Just tell her I said, "Good-bye."

Everybody singin'

Jailer,
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
Jailer, bring me water
Come on jailer, bring me
My throat is kind-a dry.

Ah, jailer, won't ya bring me some...
Bring me water
Jailer, won't ya bring me some...
Bring me water
Jailer, won't ya bring me water
My throat is kind-a dry.



All comments from YouTube:

@user-ir3ob9nk2e

I love this, if you are out and about, and your ear picks up the dulcet tones of this little classic, it will probably be me, singing to myself as I wend my jolly way home.

@sky3netko

Jó třešne zrály :)

@ingridlaskova8526

It has very different lyrics :-D

@mao1473

Zpívali jsme ji na hudebce, moc se nám líbila, tak nám ji dnes ukázala paní učitelka na angličtinu. Je opravdu krásná, hlavně tedy originál. Je mi 14 ,ale i tak, takové písně miluji.

@whiteknight3263

🇨🇿❤️

@PallDexCrew

Jj :D

@stanislavcincibuch5108

Matušku mám hrozně rád, ale originál mi možná přijde ještě lepší

2 More Replies...

@agataf1320

Fabulous Darin.

@alecbussey1359

This brings back memories,it was the first song my wife and i danced to when we started dating in 1962

@alvarofreitasjr6078

Great singer and composer! RIP Bobby...

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