walls of red wing
words and music bob dylan
recorded apr 24 , 1963 , at the last freewheelin’ session , released on the bootleg series 1 – 3 ( 1991 )
tabbed by eyolf strem
G
oh , the age of the inmates
C G
i remember quite freely :
no younger than twelve ,
G /B /C D/F#
no older ’n seventeen .
G
thrown in like bandits
C G
and cast off like criminals ,
C /B /A G
inside the walls ,
D /C /B G
on the grounds of red wing .
from the dirty old mess hall
you march to the brick wall ,
too weary to talk
and too tired to sing .
oh , it’s all afternoon
you remember your home town ,
inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
oh , the gates are cast iron
and the walls are barbed wire .
stay far from the fence
with the ’lectricity sting .
and it’s keep down your head
and stay in your number ,
inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
oh , it’s fare thee well
to the deep hollow dungeon ,
farewell to the boardwalk
that takes you to the screen .
and farewell to the minutes
they threaten you with it ,
inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
it’s many a guard
that stands around smilin’ ,
holdin’ his club
like he was a king .
hopin’ to get you
behind a wood pilin’ ,
inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
the night aimed shadows
through the crossbar windows ,
and the wind punched hard
to make the wall – siding sing .
it’s many a night i pretended to be A – sleepin’ ,
inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
as the rain rattled heavy
on the bunk – house shingles ,
and the sounds in the night ,
they made my ears ring .
’til the keys of the guards
clicked the tune of the morning ,
inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
oh , some of us’ll end up
in st . cloud prison ,
and some of us’ll wind up
to be lawyers and things ,
and some of us’ll stand up
to meet you on your crossroads ,
from inside the walls ,
the walls of red wing .
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