Jailhouse Rock
Jake Blues Lyrics
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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.
Let's rock, everybody, let's 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.
Let's rock, everybody, let's 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."
Let's rock, everybody, let's 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."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake,
No one's 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."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
The first verse of the song sets the stage for a remarkable event. The warden of the county jail is throwing a party, and the prison band is playing music. As soon as the band starts playing, the joint begins to swing, and all the inmates begin to dance and sing. You can hear the sounds of music and people enjoying themselves. The lyrics give a sense of the joy and freedom that music can bring, even in the most unlikely places. The chorus repeats itself twice and calls for everyone to rock and dance.
The second verse describes the band and their instruments. Spider Murphy is playing the tenor saxophone, and Little Joe is blowing the slide trombone. The drummer boy from Illinois is doing a fantastic job of keeping the rhythm. The rhythm section is the Purple Gang, and all of them are making great music. Again, the chorus repeats, asking everyone to rock and dance.
The third verse talks about two jailbirds: number forty-seven and number three. Number forty-seven is telling number three that they are the cutest jailbird they’ve ever seen and asks them to do the Jailhouse Rock. The mood of the song is infectious, and everyone joins in again, dancing and singing.
In the fourth and final verse, a sad sack is sitting alone in the corner weeping while everyone else is dancing. The warden tells him to join in and not be a square. The sad sack doesn't have a dance partner, but the warden tells him to use a wooden chair. The last two lines of the song are two jailbirds planning to make a break. Bugsy wants to stick around and enjoy the party, while Shifty Henry is ready to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The warden organized a celebration within the prison walls.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band that performed during the jailhouse party started to play exuberantly.
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing.
As the band continued to play energetically, the whole atmosphere of the jailhouse started to liven up.
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
The inmates were so into the music that they sung along in high spirits.
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
A call to action to everyone present to keep the party going.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
All the inmates present at the party were dancing to the music of the Jailhouse Rock.
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone,
Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone.
The band was made up of Spider Murphy on the tenor saxophone and Little Joe on the slide trombone.
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang,
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang.
The Illinois drummer boy was very lively in his drumming and the entire rhythm section of the band was referred to as the Purple Gang.
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."
Inmate forty-seven complimented inmate three, asked her to dance with him, and suggested they do the Jailhouse Rock together.
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin' all alone.
A despondent inmate was seated on a block of stone, weeping in isolation at a distance.
The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square.
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair."
The warden encouraged the despondent inmate to participate in the festivities by suggesting he dance with a wooden chair since there was no one else around.
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake,
No one's 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."
Shifty Henry shared his plan with Bugs to break out of jail while they had the chance. However, Bugs decided to stay a little longer and have fun before escaping.
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
The song ends with another call to keep partying and dancing to the Jailhouse Rock with all the inmates present.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN WEISMAN, FRED WISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dengekiblue7924
0:07 Musical
0:18 The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumping and the joint began to swing
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
[Chorus]
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
[Verse 2]
0:39 Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little Joe was blowing on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
[Chorus]
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
0:59 1:00
2:07 The sad sack was a sitting on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weeping all alone
2:12 The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair"
[Chorus]
2:17 Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
2:22 Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
@MCO18
If Elvis had lived long enough, I’m sure he would’ve cameoed as the smiling prison guard enjoying the performance
@TurnAGundam
I don't doubt that in the slightest. 😁
@zanemurcha9742
To think Elvis died 3 years before this!
@TurnAGundam
@@zanemurcha9742 If only he had lived long enough to appear in this movie. 😥
@ordo3k4os
i think he would have made a performance like the other giants of the music aretha , ray charles , cab calloway
@JR-xk1rd
Oh yea
@RepellentJeff
Forget “once in a lifetime” or “once in a generation.”
This is a once in a civilization kind of film.
@NotAfraid280
This movie is like a time capsule
@funkygilagila
Absolutely correct
@jeffreygordon7836
100% agree