Although his recording career was cut short by an early death, Carr left behind a large body of work. He had a long-time partnership with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell. His light bluesy piano combined with Blackwell's melodic jazz guitar to attract a sophisticated black audience. Carr's vocal style moved blues singing toward an urban sophistication, influencing such singers as T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ray Charles among others.
Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing used some of Carr's songs and Basie's band shows the influence of Carr's piano style.
His music has been covered by notable artists such as Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, Big Bill Broonzy, Moon Mullican, Champion Jack Dupree, Lonnie Donegan and Memphis Slim.
Carr died of nephritis shortly after his thirtieth birthday.
Prison Bound Blues
Leroy Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Early one mornin', the blues came falling down
All locked up in jail, and prison bound
All last night I sat in my cell alone
All last night, whooo, I sat in my cell alone
Thinking of my baby and my happy home
Baby, you will never see my smiling face again
But always remember, your daddy has been your friend
Sometimes I wonder, why don't you write to me?
Sometimes I wonder, why don't you write to me?
If I have been a bad fellow, I did not intend to be
When I had my trial, baby, you could not be found
When I had my trial, baby, whooo, you could not be found
So it's too late now, mistreating mama, I'm prison bound
Leroy Carr's song "Prison Bound Blues" is a somber and melancholic ballad about a man who finds himself in prison, missing his loved ones and lamenting his mistakes. The opening lines convey the feeling of being trapped and hopeless as the blues fell down on the singer. He is alone in his cell, tormented by thoughts of his family and home. The line, "Baby, you will never see my smiling face again," is particularly poignant, as it conveys the loneliness and despair of the singer. However, he wishes his child to remember him, knowing that he had been a good father despite his faults.
As the song progresses, the singer wonders why his loved ones have not written to him while he is incarcerated. He acknowledges that he may have been a bad person, but he did not intend to be. The final couplet of the song reveals that his trial has already taken place, and he was found guilty. Unfortunately, his loved ones were not there to support him, and he ends up incarcerated, with no hope of seeing them again. The song's melody is simple and repetitive, anchoring the lyrics' sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Early one morning, the blues came falling down
One day, I was feeling melancholic and disheartened.
All locked up in jail, and prison bound
I am placed in jail, and I know I will be going to prison.
All last night I sat in my cell alone
I spent the entire night alone in my cell.
Thinking of my baby and my happy home
I kept thinking about my beloved and the happy life we shared together.
Baby, you will never see my smiling face again
I know that I will not be alive to see my wife's smiling face again.
But always remember, your daddy has been your friend
I want my child to always remember that I was their father and friend.
Sometimes I wonder, why don't you write to me?
I often contemplate why my loved one does not send me letters.
If I have been a bad fellow, I did not intend to be
If I have behaved poorly, it was never my intention to be a bad person.
When I had my trial, baby, whooo, you could not be found
During my trial, I looked for my partner, but they were nowhere to be seen.
So it's too late now, mistreating mama, I'm prison bound
There is no point in mistreating my lover now because I am on my way to prison.
Writer(s): LEROY CARR
Contributed by Aubrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Giraffeman
That hit the spot
Slim Davenport
Great song.
LittleLakeShane
As I always say, Old Blues will make a rap artist urinate in his/her pants.
Alex Jake.J
eh! copion esa no esa no es tuya es: prision bound 49