Sorry to cut in, but Blake's rendition of the song is totally different, and given that he recorded it prior to most artists, gains in credibility:

HE'S IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW
As recorded by Blind Blake, 1927. (Paramount 12565)

Remember last election,
Ev'rybody was in action,
Tryin' to find themselves a president.
There was a man named Lawson,
From New York down to Boston,
Representin' the colored people we have sent.

My brother was a voter,
Also a great promoter,
Goin' 'round givin' advice.
He'd go round to the poll and vote,
'Stead of voting once he voted twice.

He's in the jailhouse now.
He's in the jailhouse now.
We got him downtown in jail,
No one to go his bail.
He's in the jailhouse now.

I went downtown last Friday,
I met a gal named Lidy,
I thought she was the swellest gal in town.
She start to call me honey.
I thought to spendin' money.
We went into a café and set down.

I thought that I was in it,
Buyin' a drink a minute,
Buyin' wine, champeen by the doz. [=dozen?]
When I went to pay that man,
I found that lady's hand
In my pocket where my money was. (They got 'er.)

She's in the graveyard now.
She's in the graveyard now.
When I went to pay that man,
I found that old gal hand.
She's in the jailhouse now.

She's in the jailhouse now.
She's in the jailhouse now.
When I went to pay that man,
I found that lady's hand.
She's in the jailhouse now.


This is from his 1927 Paramounts Records take, with Gus Cannon on banjo...