Lyrics
Peoria Johnson told Dirty Ol' Joe
Peoria Johnson tells Dirty Ol' Joe
I can break out of any old jail, you know
Confidence in being able to escape any jail
The bars are iron, the walls are stone
Prison structure described as formidable
All I need me is an old fishbone
Expresses a need for a simple tool for escape
Fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
Repetition emphasizing the presence of fish being served in jail
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse
-Fish in the jailhouse tonight
-[?] hammerhead shark
Reference to types of fish, metaphorical or literal
Well, a steelhead salmon or a mud bank carp
List of various fish species
I said, one side dull, and then the other side sharp
Describing the characteristics of a fishbone
And on Saturday night I'll be in Central Park
Mentions being elsewhere on Saturday night
Fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
Continued emphasis on fish being served in jail
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse
-Fish in the jailhouse tonight
-Ask Little Slow Jackson, on a forty-four trip
Asking others about the speaker's actions
Ask Whipperfield Farraday, ask what I did
Seeking confirmation of the speaker's deeds
From the jail to the city, there's a rollin' fog
Describing movement from jail to the city
From Natchez(2) to Kenosha, runnin' down to New York
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
Reiteration of fish being served in jail
All right (all right), oh boy (oh boy)
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
-All right (all right), oh boy (oh boy)
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight
-All right (all right), oh boy (oh boy)
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse
-Fish in the jailhouse tonight
-Fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
Reiterated emphasis on fish being served in jail
They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse tonight, all right, oh boy
-They're serving fish in the jailhouse
-Fish in the jailhouse tonight
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