A Week In A Country Jail
Tom T. Hall Lyrics

One time I spent a week inside a little country jail
The singer spent a week inside a country jail once in the past.

And I don't guess I'll ever live it down
The singer acknowledges that the jail incident is a lasting shame they won't likely forget.

I was sittin' at a red light when these two men came and got me
Two men arrested the singer for alleged speeding while they were at a stop light.

And said that I was speeding through their town
The two men accused the artist of speeding through a town.

Well, they said,tomorrow morning you can see the judge then go.
The authorities scheduled the artist's hearing for the following day.

They let me call one person on the phone
The singer received permission to make one phone call during their detainment.

I thought I'd be there overnight so I just called my boss
Since the singer assumed a short stay, they informed their boss of their temporary unavailability.

To tell him I'd be off but not for long
The artist reassured their boss that their absence would be brief.

Well, they motioned me inside a cell with seven other guys
The authorities locked the artist inside a cell with seven other inmates.

One little barred up window in the rear
The cell had only one small window with bars in the back.

My cellmates said if they had let me bring some money in
The singer's cellmates lamented the fact that the jail didn't let them have money inside the cell.

We ought to send the jailer for some beer
The artist's cellmates wanted to purchase some beer from the jailer if they had been allowed to bring in money.

Well, I had to pay him double 'cause he was the man in charge
The singer paid twice the amount of money because the jailer demanded a higher fee in exchange for beer.

And the jailer's job was not the best in town
The singer acknowledged that the jailer's occupation wasn't ideal.

Later on his wife brought hot bologna, eggs and gravy
The jailer's wife brought the singer food consisting of hot bologna, eggs, and gravy.

The first day I was there I turned it down
The artist refused to eat the offered food on their first day of detainment.

Well, next morning they just let us sleep but I was up real early
The artist had plenty of rest on the following day but woke up early.

Wonderin' when I'd get my release
The singer was anxious and wondering when they would be released.

And by now I wasn't quite so hard to please
The singer began to ease up and was easier to please as time went on.

Two days later when I thought that I had been forgotten
The artist felt forgotten after two days passed in jail.

The sheriff came in chewin' on a straw
The sheriff, chewing on straw, entered the cell.

He said, where is the guy who thinks that this is indianapolis?
The sheriff asked where the detainee was who claimed they were in Indianapolis.

I'd like to talk to him about the law.
The sheriff requested that the individual who mentioned the word 'Indianapolis' to speak with him about the law.

Well, I told him who I was and told him I was working steady
The artist told the sheriff their identity and their steady work.

And I really should be gettin' on my way
The singer stressed that they must leave soon.

That part about me bein' who I was did not impress him
The sheriff didn't care about the singer's identity.

He said, the judge'll be here any day.
The sheriff informed the singer that the judge would arrive soon.

The jailer had a wife and let me tell you she was awful
The jailer's wife was terrible, according to the artist.

But she brought that hot bologna every day
Despite her unpleasantness, the jailer's wife consistently brought the detainee hot bologna.

And after seven days she got to lookin' so much better
After seven days, the singer began finding the jailer's wife visually appealing.

I asked her if she'd like to run away
The singer proposed a plan to the jailer's wife to run away together.

The next mornin' that old judge took every nickel that I had
The next day, the judge levied a fine that drained the artist's wallet.

And he said, son, let this teach you not to race.
The judge admonished the artist, explaining that the penalty was a consequence of illegal racing.

The jailer's wife was smilin' from the window as I left
As the artist left, the jailer's wife smiled at them through the window.

In thirty minutes I was out of state
In less than an hour, the singer had left the state.