The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #42549   Message #620500
Posted By: Deckman
03-Jan-02 - 03:38 PM
Thread Name: Ballad of the Merry Ferry -songs of the Northwest
Subject: Lyr Add: PORTLAND COUNTY JAIL
Here's another typical Northwest song. I believe that the late Walt Robertson recorded this on one of his albums for Moses Asch of Folkways Records fame. We used to sing this with great gusto ... the later the hour, the more the gusto!
PORTLAND COUNTY JAIL
I got drunk the other night, and the coppers run me in,
I had no money to pay me fine, no one to go my bail,
So I got stuck, for ninety days, in the Portland County jail.

Oh, such a bunch of divils, as no one ever saw,
Robbers, thieves, and highwaymen, breakers of the law,
They sang a song the whole night long, the curses fell like hail,
I'll bless the day, that takes me away, from the Portland County jail