Origins: In the Jailhouse Now

Subject: Lyr Add: HE'S IN THE JAILHOUSE BLUES (Jim Jackson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 02:10 PM

Yet another version from YouTube:


HE'S IN THE JAILHOUSE BLUES
(As sung by Jim Jackson)

I had a friend named Campbell.
He used to steal and gamble.
He made his living cheating all the while.
He played a game called euchre,
Pinochle and poker.
He thought he was the smartest coon in town.
Well, I just found out Monday
That he got locked up Sunday.
They got him in that jailhouse down in town.
They got Campbell in the jail,
No one to go his bail.
The judge won't even accept him a fine.

He's in the jailhouse now.
He's in the jailhouse now.
I told Campbell once or twice:
Stop playin' cards an' shootin' dice. (Yeah, they got him.)
He's in the jailhouse now.

I 'member 'way last Friday,
I met a gal named Lidy.
I though she was the purtiest girl in town.
She called me honey,
And I begin to spend my money.
We went into a swell café an' set down.
I thought that I was in it.
I was spendin' ev'ry minute,
Buyin' wine and whiskey by the quart,
But when I went to pay that man,
I found that lady's hand
In my pocket where my money was.

She's in the graveyard now.
She's in the graveyard now.
I told the judge right to his face:
That lady's hand was out of its place. (Yeah, they got her!)
She's in the graveyard now.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHE'S IN THE GRAVEYARD NOW (Earl McDonald
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 02:45 PM

One more, from YouTube:

SHE'S IN THE GRAVEYARD NOW
As sung by Earl McDonald's Original Louisville Jug Band, 1927. (Columbia 14255-D)

1. Now 'member the last election
When our folks was in action—
They tried to get a good man for president.
I had a big brother named Walter(?),
Very swell promoter.
He was always lookin' for swell advice.
So I told him to go right down to the poll,
Vote with his whole heart an' soul.
Place of voting once, he voted twice,
And now he's down in jail,
No one to go his bail.
The judge said he should have give him life.

(Where's Walter?)
He's in the jailhouse now.
He's in the jailhouse now.
We told that boy 'fore he left home,
To let them politics alone.
He's in the jailhouse now.

2. Now up in New York City,
Folks thought it was a pity
That the landlords had to raise that rent so high.
We hustled round that town.
In all our hustlin' round,
We could not raise that rent no way we tried.
My mother took in washin'.
My sister done the ironing.
I helped around the town by shining shoes;
But my daddy walked around
Like he owned New York Town,
Spending all Mama's money buyin' moonshine booze.

(Where's Papa?)
He's in the jailhouse now.
He's in the jailhouse now.
As fast as Ma could get that rent,
Pa was stealing ev'ry cent.
He's in the jailhouse now.

3. Now I went out last Friday.
I met a big fat girl named Ida.
She thought I was the swellest coon in town.
She commenced to call me honey.
Naturally, I begin to spend my money.
We took in ever' cabaret that could be found.
We was drinkin' ev'ry minute.
I thought I was in it.
I was buyin' Jamaica ginger by the pound;
But when I went to pay that man,
I found little Ida's hand
Right in my pocket where my money was.

(Where's Ida?)
She's in the graveyard now.
She's in the graveyard now.
I told that judge right to his face:
Ida's hand was out of place.
She's in the graveyard now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Jailhouse Now
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 01:43 AM

I liked the one on ' O Brother Where Art Thou ' also the one By Blind Blake written in the 2o's Im curious who Originally wrote it ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Jailhouse Now
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 05:54 PM

Wikipedia says the earliest copyright for the song is a 1915 version by two African-American theater performers named Davis and Stafford [source: The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Legacy in Country Music, by Jocelyn R. Neal, 2009 - page 124]

Anybody have any information on the Davis-Stafford version?

This (click) is apparently the 1943 copyright renewal. It attributes the song to Ed Stafford and Toots Davis, registered under the title, "He's in the Jailhouse Now." -Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Jailhouse Now - 1915 ver?
From: Musician.Shane
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 08:07 PM

Hi everyone, my name is Craig and I joined on to research old folk music, this should be fun. One of the first things I am researching is the lyrics to the 1915 version by Davis and Stafford.
I have found 2 clues:
1) The Wiki article referring to page 124 of the Jimmie Rodgers book
2) The article says the guy's name is "Campbell"

I am going to get the book, research it and get back to everyone. I am hoping we can try and assemble at least maybe a rough approximation of the original 1915 lyrics (if we can, if it is possible) and I want to record a YouTube video of it. Public Domain!!

Thanks, and I'll keep in touch,
Craig from DC

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: In the Jailhouse Now
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 06:14 PM

My mother was a Jimmie Rodgers fan and had all of his records. Some of the lyrics posted here are NOT in Jimmie Rodgers original version of In The Jailhouse Now, and according to her, there was only one recording, in 1930. Something is rotten in Sweden.

Subject: RE: Origins: In the Jailhouse Now
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 17 Feb 17 - 11:59 PM

Toots Davis was born in about 1891 in New York and died in 1928. Stafford also died in the '20s, before Davis.

"Toots Davis and Ed Stafford virtually 'took the house' with a song 'In the Jail House Now.'" -- Pittsburgh _Post-Gazette_ 10/3/16

"Toots Davis and Ed. Stafford, singing their funny song 'In The Jail House Now'..." -- Topeka _State Journal_ 11/18/16

"Extra Added Attraction TOOTS DAVIS and EDDIE STAFFORD By Popular Request, Singing Their Big Song Hit, 'IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW'" -- Washington _Herald_ 5/22/18

Subject: RE: Origins: In the Jailhouse Now
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 05:48 AM

A photo of Toots Davis and Ed Stafford is in the Washington _Times_, 5/19/18.