“New Prisoner's Song”
Description
Singer has seven more to serve, for knocking a man down and taking his watch. He remembers his home and family. Chorus: "Sitting alone, sad all alone/Sitting in my cell all alone/A-thinking of those good times gone by me/A-knowing that I once had a home"
Long description
Singer, in prison for seven years, has seven more to serve, for knocking a man down in the alley and taking his watch. He remembers his home and family, and wonders if they think of him. Chorus: "Sitting alone, sad all alone/Sitting in my cell all alone/A-thinking of those good times gone by me/A-knowing that I once had a home"
Notes
Although the plots are virtually identical, this is quite distinct from the "Prisoner's Song." That has the chorus "If I had the wings of an eagle," which this does not, although I strongly suspect it was composed in flagrant imitation. [Borrowing a few items from "Botany Bay" along the way. - RBW] Mike Seeger, incidentally, notes that there is at least one other recording of this song from the 1920s, presumably Slim Smith's. - PJS
Roud, of course, lumps this with the "other" Prisoner's Song. - RBW
Mackenzie has the "Lonely and sad, sad and lonely" chorus but also has as the final verse "I wish I had the wings of an eagle...." - BS
Cross references
- cf. "The Prisoner's Song (I)"
Recordings
- Dock Boggs, "New Prisoner's Song" (Brunswick 133A/Vocalion 5114 [5144?], 1927); (on Boggs1, BoggsCD1)
- Slim Smith, "Sad and Alone" (Vocalion 05082, c. 1927)
References
- Creighton-NovaScotia 141, "Prisoner's Song" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
- Mackenzie 121, "The Prisoner's Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #11730
- BI, RcNPS