Rodgers’s “In the Jailhouse Now” was recorded February 15, 1928, in Camden, New Jersey, and features Rodgers on vocals and guitar, with Ellsworth T. Cozzens playing banjo. Rodgers included his famous yodel throughout the song. Rodgers recorded a sequel titled “In the Jailhouse Now—No. 2” in Hollywood, California, in 1930, which follows the misadventures of a man named “Campbell.”
The earliest copyright for the song is a 1915 version by two African-American theater performers named Davis and Stafford. The song has been covered many times, most frequently in Jimmie Rodgers’s version. Artists who have sung it include Tommy Duncan, Webb Pierce, Pink Anderson, Johnny Cash, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions (featuring Jerry Garcia), Merle Haggard, Doc Watson, and Tim Blake Nelson with The Soggy Bottom Boys in the film and soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The song shows up under different titles including “He’s in the Jailhouse Now,” and some versions use the line “She’s in the graveyard now” in the chorus. Prior to 1930, several different versions of it were recorded and copyrighted. The earliest is Davis and Stafford’s 1915 version, which has verses about a man named Campbell cheating at a card game, and a corrupt election. In 1924, Whistler's Jug Band from Louisville, Kentucky, recorded it under the title “Jail House Blues,” which was the same title as a famous blues tune by Bessie Smith but was, in fact, the same song as “In the Jailhouse Now”. In 1927, Earl McDonald’s Original Louisville Jug Band made another recording of the song. Two African-American bluesmen also recorded the song prior to Rodgers: Blind Blake (in 1927), and Jim Jackson (in January 1928). Jackson also copyrighted the song before Rodgers. Finally, in 1930, the Memphis Sheiks (a pseudonym for The Memphis Jug Band) recorded it in a version that scholars have often claimed -- albeit mistakenly -— was a cover of Jimmie Rodgers. The version of the melody and lyrics that they used, is clearly derived from the Louisville Jug Band performances, not Rodgers. On some of the Memphis Sheiks’ records, an African-American vaudeville performer named Bert Murphy is given credit for writing the song.
Shortly after Rodgers recorded the song, three additional versions appeared that were decidedly not covers of Rodgers. Boyd Senter and his Senterpedes did a jazz version in 1929 for the Bluebird label; Gene Kardos and His Orchestra did a jazz version in 1932 for Victor Records; and Billy Mitchell did a stride piano and shouter version of it in 1936 for the Bluebird label. After Rodgers, the best-known version of the song was by Webb Pierce, who had a #1 Country Hit with the song in 1955. When Johnny Cash recorded the song in 1962, he used lyrics that are different than Jimmie Rodgers’ versions and that Cash learned from the African-American jug band musicians in Memphis. In spite of this fact, most writers claim that Cash was covering Jimmie Rodgers’s song, which further obscures the fact that the song originated with African-American performers and was kept alive in a vaudeville and jug band tradition for many decades.
In O Brother, Where Art Thou?, “Delmar” (Tim Blake Nelson) sings a rendition, with “Pete” (John Turturro) yodeling between the verses, prior to The Soggy Bottom Boys' main number, Man of Constant Sorrow. In 1979, the song was done in a blackface performance in the musical One Mo' Time by Vernel Bagneris. The musical was revived on Broadway in 2002. The version of the song used in the show was the same as that recorded by the Louisville Jug Bands in the 1920s.
In the Jailhouse Now
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who used to steal, gamble and rob
He thought he was the smartest guy in town
But I found out last Monday
That Bob got locked up Sunday
They've got him in the jailhouse way down town.
He's in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice
To quit playin' cards and shootin' dice
He's in the jailhouse now.
He played a game called poker
He knuckled with Dan Yoakum
But shootin' dice was his greatest game
Now he's downtown in jail
Nobody to go his bail
The judge done said that he will pay the fine.
I went out last Tuesday
Met a girl named Susie
I told her I was the swellest man around
We started to spend my money
Then she started to call me honey
We took in every cabaret in town.
We're in the jailhouse now
We're in the jailhouse now
I told the judge right to his face
We didn't like to see this place
We're in the jailhouse now.
The song 'In the Jailhouse Now' talks about a man's friend, Ramblin' Bob who used to be a thief, a gambler and a robber. Bob thought he was the smartest guy in town, but on a Monday, the man found out that Bob got arrested on Sunday and is in jail down the town. The song conveys the idea that one should not indulge in unlawful activities as it can land one in jail. The chorus of the song reiterates one of the primary themes of the song - 'He's in the jailhouse now.'
The second verse of the song features Ramblin' Bob's favorite games, poker and shooting dice. He enjoyed these games so much that he played with Dan Yoakum at knuckles. But, eventually, he landed in jail with nobody coming to bail him out. The third verse tells a different story - the man goes out on Tuesday and meets a girl named Susie. They go to every cabaret in town, and after spending all of the man's money, they are both arrested and sent to jail. The interesting thing about this verse is that Susie doesn't appear to be a criminal, and the exact reason for her arrest remains unclear.
Interesting facts:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob
There was someone I knew, a man who was a drifter named Bob
Who used to steal, gamble and rob
Bob had a tendency to commit crimes such as stealing and gambling
He thought he was the smartest guy in town
Despite his criminal behavior, Bob considered himself to be intelligent
But I found out last Monday
It wasn't until recently that I discovered something significant about Bob
That Bob got locked up Sunday
Bob was arrested on a Sunday and taken into custody
They've got him in the jailhouse way down town.
Bob is currently being held in a jail located far from where he was arrested
He's in the jailhouse now
Bob is currently imprisoned
I told him once or twice
I warned Bob on a couple of occasions
To quit playin' cards and shootin' dice
I advised Bob to stop engaging in activities such as playing cards and shooting dice
He played a game called poker
One of Bob's preferred activities was playing a card game called poker
He knuckled with Dan Yoakum
Bob associated with a man named Dan Yoakum
But shootin' dice was his greatest game
However, Bob's favorite game was shooting dice
Now he's downtown in jail
Bob is currently imprisoned in a downtown jail
Nobody to go his bail
Bob has no one willing to post bail for him and allow him to leave jail
The judge done said that he will pay the fine.
The judge has determined that Bob must pay a fine for his crimes
I went out last Tuesday
On a Tuesday, I ventured out of my home
Met a girl named Susie
During my outing, I encountered a woman named Susie
I told her I was the swellest man around
I boasted to Susie that I was the most charming guy in the area
We started to spend my money
Susie and I began to use my funds to enjoy ourselves
Then she started to call me honey
Susie began referring to me in a friendly, endearing term
We took in every cabaret in town.
Together, we visited every club and entertainment spot located in the area
We're in the jailhouse now
Unfortunately, Susie and I both are now inmates at the local jail
I told the judge right to his face
In the presence of the judge, I openly expressed my displeasure about the situation
We didn't like to see this place
Susie and I found our current surroundings to be unappealing
We're in the jailhouse now.
Once again, it bears repeating that both Susie and myself are currently imprisoned
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIMMIE RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sj27m
My dear old Dad was born in 1901 and this was one of his favorite songs in his large repertoire.
I was born in 1966 and Dad turned 66 two months after I was born.
Can you imagine having a new born baby at 66years old?
What a remarkable man.
Up into his 90s
He would step out on the front porch, dance a jig and yodel so loud that the neighbors dog 75 yards away would bark, and he would have a big laugh.
He had a kids heart and a charisma unmatched by anyone I've ever met.
He made the world a much much happier place to live, and I had no idea how much I would miss him.
Everyone loved and respected Dad and he loved and respected everyone.
Remembering those happy times and his laughter and light heartedness has brought me through to many hard times to remember.
He is still my best friend and my rock. LOVE YOU DAD AND MOM AND I KNOW WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN
SOON. ❤❤❤
Alison Bell
His voice is so extraordinary, even after almost 100 years it touches my heart so powerfully. Jimmie never recorded a bad track. Like Hank Williams who came 20 years after him, they were one-off, freak talents.
Red Bae
Yes!!!
ITILII
Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music, one of the first 3 inductees (along with Hank Williams and Fred Rose) into the Country Music Hall of Fame
ITILII
Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music, and one of the first 3 inductees (along with Hank Williams and Fred Rose) into the Country Music Hall of Fame
Teresa Dutton
This song was sung by someone else in the George Clooney movie, Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Holly Hunter and John Goodman are also in this movie.
Timothy Smothers
I scored a 3 record set off eBay last night for like $16 can't wait to put them on the record player!
Daisy Flowers
What a treat to hear an original recording by Jimmie Rodgers. Wow, 1928!
Cynthia Baxter
You can thank Ralph peer
Jennifer
You’d have loved my grandpa’s house. Jimmie playing constantly! He even took us to his home in Kerrville.
Mike Kaup
I was born in 49 and recall my grandfather playing this. Great times, great music!