Jailhouse Rock lyrics

Song information

Artist: John Mellencamp
Album: Chestnut Street Incident

Lyrics

Written by jerry lieber, mike stoller

The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin' down they began to swing
You should've heard those jailbirds sing
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock

Well spider murphy played on the saxophone
Little joe was blowin' on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was the purple gang
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock

Well number forty-seven said to number three:
"You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure could enjoy some of your company
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock

Well sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
When over in the corner weepin' all alone
The warden said, "buddy, don't you be no square
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock

Well henry said to bugs, "for heaven's sake
No one's lookin', now's our chance to make a break."
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, "nix nix
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock

[from http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk]

"Chestnut Street Incident" album track list