Young Buchan. The story that Leadbelly sang his way out of prison by appealing to Governor OK Allen is a myth. He does appear to have sung his way out of the Sugarland pen with an appeal to Governor Pat Neff, and it is true that he recorded a petition to Allen while in the Angola prison. However, his release from Angola was granted on the grounds that he had acquired enough "good time". IE., time off for good behaviour.