In the Jailhouse Now No.2
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob
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
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.

Overall Meaning

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.


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
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Comments from YouTube:

@jitsroller

Been listenin' to Jimmie since I can remember, the music came out of a RCA record player my dad played. Yep the smell of bacon and eggs the sound of Jimmie Rodgers on a spring Sunday morning circa 1972. haha

@christopherhurley223

Took me the last 30 minutes to find this song 😂

@nickmatalski

I love Jimmies music.

@nealpomea2836

Campbell never was my name!!!

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