Prison Song Songtext
von Bryan Bowers

My first day in prison, I was wondering what to do
Praying that all the things I′d heard weren't really true
The guard told me for my own good I sure better cut my hair
He laughed and said, "It′s your ass boy, myself I don't care"
They gave us prison clothes, took ours from the street
When the convicts started whistling
I felt like a piece of meat in a livestock show
And the world outside don't wanna know

Well, Goodtime Slim he walked right over and pulled up a seat
Squeezed my knee till I wanted to cry and said, "Hello new meat"
My friends had all told me when a con comes on strong
Get him talking ′bout why he′s in 'cause no con never done wrong
Feeling like a cornered rat looking to make my escape
I said, "Slim, what are you in for?" He laughed and said, "Rape"
And I thought, "Oh no, but the world outside don′t wanna know"


Well, in jail if you wanna stay outta trouble you only got two choices
You can be a Bible thumper or the crazy who hears voices
Crazy is a good role if they don't spot your game
And even the cons lay off the ones that preach in God′s name
I let on I was crazy, everyone left me alone
But I never knew till later that my heart had turned to stone
Like a lava flow, and the world outside don't wanna know

The cons were playing cards when the new kid came that day
"The winning hand gets him first tonight" was what I heard them say
In jail you have no ears or eyes if you wanna stay alive
And it′s easy to forget about fair when you're trying to survive
I heard the kid scream that night as they beat him to his knees
I wanted to go and help him, but all I did was squeeze
My head in the pillow, and the world outside don't wanna know

Little blackjack was playing fair, Moose hit him from behind
Jack told Moose, "Play ball, man, you′re
Getting beat ′cause you ain't trying"
Well, Moose fouled Jack once again, Jack took him to the floor
And he did not let him up until Moose cried, "No more"
Next day in the dining hall there was a muffled sound
As the line moved forward, little Jack lay bleeding on the ground
Like a crumpled crow, and the world outside don′t wanna know


Early one morning the captain came, he had some news for me
Parole board had decided they were gonna set me free
Outside I could find no work, forget my college degree
"You're an ex-con", they said, "Ain′t nothing we can do, you see"
Just about to hang it up when I got to singing in the streets
Music saved my life and now I'm in adversity
With my past in tow, and the world outside don′t wanna know

Well, I recall the vow I made as I walked through the prison gate
To fight for reform, to fight the prison state
But I've not changed a single jail though I swore that I would
I don't go near them and I know that I should
And the only reason I′d kill someone is to keep from going back
You can think what you want of me but you didn′t see little Jack
Die so slow, and the truth is none of us wanna know