The Teenagers' first single, 1956's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", was also their biggest hit. After Lymon went solo in mid-1957, both his career and those of the Teenagers fell into decline. By age 26, he was found dead in his grandmother's bathroom from a heroin overdose.
Jailhouse Rock
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing.
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone.
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang,
The whole rhythm section was the purple gang.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
Number forty-seven said to number three:
You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
I sure would be delighted with your company,
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin' all alone.
The warden said, hey, buddy, don't you be no square.
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
Shifty Henry said to bugs, for heavens sake,
No ones lookin', now's our chance to make a break.
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, nix nix,
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
The song "Jailhouse Rock" is a classic rock and roll song by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers that describes a party which is thrown by the jail warden, who invites the prison band to entertain the inmates. The band, which includes Little Joe playing the slide trombone, Spider Murphy playing the tenor saxophone, and the drummer boy from Illinois, started playing and the infectious rhythm got everyone in the cell block moving. Number forty-seven asks number three to dance with him, saying she's the cutest jailbird he's ever seen. Even the sad sack sitting in the corner is encouraged to join in and dance, and the warden suggests he use a wooden chair if he can't find a partner.
The song is a perfect representation of the rock and roll genre and its influence on popular culture. The song's upbeat tempo, lively melody, and impressive instrumentation make it an excellent example of the classic rock and roll sound. The lyrics also invite the listener to join in and dance, making it a party song that is still enjoyed today. The song's theme of dancing in a prison setting also reflects the underlying theme of rebellion that is often associated with rock and roll music. Overall, the song is a classic example of the powerful impact that rock and roll music can have on its audience.
Line by Line Meaning
The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The prison warden organized an event in the county prison.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The musical group for the prison performed there and started to play with a lot of enthusiasm.
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing.
The band was so lively and entertaining that other people started to join in and the place got more lively.
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
The people in jail enjoying the event were actually quite good at singing and should have been heard by others.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Encouragement to start dancing and enjoying the music with enthusiasm.
Everybody in the cell block was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
Everyone in the prison section was dancing and having a good time.
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone.
A specific person named Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone.
Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone.
Another person named Little Joe was playing the slide trombone.
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang.
A younger boy from Illinois was the drummer and was playing very aggressively with a lot of noise.
The whole rhythm section was the purple gang.
The entire group of musical performers was known as the Purple Gang.
Number forty-seven said to number three: You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
One person in the prison told another that they were the most attractive person they had ever seen in jail.
I sure would be delighted with your company, Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.
The person who made the compliment wants to dance together in the way that is popular in jail.
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone Way over in the corner weepin' all alone.
Someone was sitting alone crying in the corner on a block of stone.
The warden said, hey, buddy, don't you be no square. If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair.
The warden told the crying person to join the event and insisted that even if they couldn't find a dance partner, they could dance comfortably with a wooden chair.
Shifty Henry said to bugs, for heavens sake, No ones lookin', now's our chance to make a break.
One person told another that they could get away from this area quickly unnoticed.
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, nix nix, I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks.
Other person declined the idea of running away right now and instead wants to keep enjoying the event for a while longer.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the jailhouse rock.
The encouragement to dance and have fun continues as everyone is still enjoying the music and dancing.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN WEISMAN, FRED WISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sydneyyanne
'Jailhouse Rock' was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the film titled 'Jailhouse Rock' (1957) … Frankie Lymon covered the song in May 1958 (the 5th recording of 'Jailhouse Rock')
@jaybee5310
Frankie could put his flare to any song and almost got it better then the original guys, he was truly a remarkable talent, at the tender age of 13 he rocked the world. always miss u Frankie Lymon.
@Goedhartbros
Frankie Lymon and Elvis Presley were both found dead on the bathroom at an early age. R.I.P. Elvis and Frankie. They both have their own style so they are not really in competition.
@REBELNATION89
Frankie could've been a an icon and not just a mad talented kid from Harlem. All he needed around him was people who truly cared for him in his personal life. Also, he needed good songwriters and producers to help him through his music transitions. From his voice changing to the styles people were listening to from the 50's to the 60's.
@GregCandalez
Loved this version, loved Frankie's matured voice. It may not be his signature soprano, but it's depth transpired credibility, in my opinion.
@dixie8418
These lyrics are so much clearer than in other versions
@Last-Scar-5675
Elvis’ lyrics are very clear
@1rnbrother4u
Man; that dude wasn't a joke! He was the real deal.
@FourEverEvolving
*Clutching my pearls* Wowwwwwww I never knew he had a version of this song! What a talented gift from God he was!
@theo3s611
The powerful voice and range that Frankie had was Unbelievable