“Old Kingston Jail”

Description

The singer describes the conditions in Kingston Jail. The inmates talk of their desire to leave. Most of the song is devoted to the varied characters found in the prison

Supplemental text

Old Kingston Jail
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Helen Hartness Flanders and Marguerite Olney, Ballads
Migrant in New England, pp. 25-27. From Dr. David Matteson,
Lafayette, Rhode Island. Collected 1945.

Give kind attention, one and all,
And listen to my tale.
I will warble you a ditty
About the crooks at Kingston Jail.
I know it will amuse you
To hear about the stars
And the doing time at Kingson Jail
Behind those iron bars.

Chorus:
It's old Kingston Jail,
We're longing for the time
For Wilcox to unlock the doors
And tell us all to climb.
We'll jump into our hats and coats
And travel off by rail
And bid farewell to the white-washed cell
We had at Kingston Jail.

(7 additional stanzas or chorus)

References

1. Flanders/Olney, pp. 25-27, "Old Kingston Jail" (1 text)
2. ST FO025 (Partial)
3. Roud #4675
4. BI, FO025