Is an American novelty blues song originally found in vaudeville performances from the early 20th century, usually credited to Jimmie Rodgers. The song’s first two verses trace the exploits of Ramblin’ Bob, who cheats at cards and gets caught, while the final verse tells about taking a girl named Susie out on the town and winding up in jail together.
After Rodgers, the best-known version of the song was by Webb Pierce, who had a No. 1 country hit with the song in 1955. Pierce’s version spent No. 1 on the Billboard country chart for 21 weeks, becoming the third song in the chart’s history to spend as long on the chart; previously, Eddy Arnold (“I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms),” 1947) and Hank Snow (“I’m Movin’ On,” 1950) achieved the feat. For 58 years, those three songs held the longevity record for most weeks at No. 1 with 21 weeks, with only a handful of songs coming within a month of matching the record into the early 1960s. Finally, on August 10, 2013, “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line surpassed Pierce’s “In the Jailhouse Now” for most weeks at No. 1 when it spent its 22nd week at No. 1.
Some Versions
Jimmie Rodgers July 1928
Webb Pierce December 1954
Cowboy Copas August 1963
Ernest Tubb April 1967
Boxcar Willie 1989
Hank Thompson July 18, 2000
Billy Walker July 11, 2006
Stay Tuned String Band 2011
Webb Pierce – In The Jailhouse Now Lyrics
[Chorus 1]
He’s in the jailhouse now
He’s in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice
To quit playin’ cards and shootin’ dice
He’s in the jailhouse now
[Verse 1]
Well I had a friend named Rambling Bob
Who used to steal, gamble and rob
He thought he was the smartest guy in town
But I found out last Monday, that Bob got locked up Sunday
They got him in the jailhouse way downtown
[Chorus 1]
He’s in the jailhouse now
He’s in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice
To quit playin’ cards and shootin’ dice
He’s in the jailhouse now
[Verse 2]
Well I went out last Tuesday
I met a girl named Susie
I told her I was the swellest man around
Well she started and to spend my money
She started and to callin’ me honey
We took in every honky tonk in town
[Chorus 2]
We’re in the jailhouse now
We’re in the jailhouse now
They told us once or twice
To quit playin’ cards and shootin’ dice
We’re in the jailhouse now
,” 1947) and Hank Snow (“I’m Movin’ On,” 1950) achieved the feat. For 58 years, those three songs held the longevity record for most weeks at No. 1 with 21 weeks, with only a handful of songs coming within a month of matching the record into the early 1960s. Finally, on August 10, 2013, “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line surpassed Pierce’s “In the Jailhouse Now” for most weeks at No. 1 when it spent its 22nd week at No. 1.Some VersionsJimmie Rodgers July 1928Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars March 1950Webb Pierce December 1954Cowboy Copas August 1963Ernest Tubb April 1967Hank Snow featuring Albert Fullam May 1972Boxcar Willie 1989Hank Thompson July 18, 2000Billy Walker July 11, 2006Stay Tuned String Band 2011){kind=link}