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DOING TIME It's a bitter day of sorrow When you drink the cup of shame You're branded with a number And forced to give your name You put on them dirty garments As the outcome of your crime 'Tis a bitter day of sorrow boy When you're doing time At night you are surrounded By four great white-washed walls You will hear the hours chiming As the warder makes his calls Or maybe you are dreaming Of the one you love so well When suddenly you're wakened By the ringing of the bell You roll your nap in silence As you listen to the chime 'Tis a bitter day of sorrow boy When you're doing time This hill of life's a steep one A long and dreary climb But it's twice as long and steep my boy When you're doing time --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In his Big Book of Australian Folk Song Ron Edwards writes "I had collected it on 21 January 1965 at Cairns from 'Tiger' O'Shane. He had learned it from a friend who in turn had picked it up while doing time in Stuart Creek gaol in northern Queensland. In 1967 Clem Parkinson collected a version of Doing Time at the other end of Australia, from the Morwell River Prison Centre, and it can be seen from this fact that the ballad is widely spread. It is Clem Parkinson's tune that I have used here". @jail @Australian filename[ DOINTIME TUNE FILE: DOINTIME CLICK TO PLAY RG apr97 |
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