Jailhouse Rock
J.Leiber Lyrics

The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison warden threw a party for inmates in prison

The prison band was there and they began to wail
The prison had a band which started playing

The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing
The music was so good that everyone started dancing

You should've heard them knocked-out jailbirds sing
The prisoners were so happy and excited that they started singing along with the band

Let's rock; everybody, let's rock
The singer is encouraging everyone to dance and enjoy themselves

Everybody in the whole cell block
Everyone in the prison joined in the dancing

Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock
The song being played was called Jailhouse Rock, and everyone was dancing to it

Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
A man named Spider Murphy played the saxophone in the band

Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone
A man named Little Joe played the slide trombone in the band

The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
A drummer from Illinois played loud and energetically

The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
The band was called the Purple Gang and they played the rhythm section of the music

Number forty-seven said to number three
One prisoner, number forty-seven, spoke to another prisoner, number three

"You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
The first prisoner found the second prisoner attractive

I sure would be delighted with your company
The first prisoner wanted to spend time with the second prisoner

Come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me"
The first prisoner asked the second prisoner to dance with him to the Jailhouse Rock song

Sad sack was sittin' on a block of stone
One prisoner was sitting alone and feeling sad

Way over in the corner weepin' all alone
This prisoner was really upset and crying by himself

The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square
The prison warden spoke to this prisoner, telling him not to be sad and boring

If you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair"
The warden suggested that the sad prisoner dance with a wooden chair if he couldn't find anyone else to dance with

Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake
Two prisoners, Shifty Henry and Bugs, were talking to each other

No one's lookin'; now's our chance to make a break"
Shifty Henry wanted to escape and thought it was a good opportunity to try

Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix, nix
Bugsy disagreed with Shifty's plan

I want to stick around a while and get my kicks"
Bugsy wanted to have fun and enjoy himself in prison before trying to escape

Dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock
Everyone in the prison was dancing to the song called Jailhouse Rock