Walls of Red Wing
Recorded Apr 24, 1963, at the last Freewheelin' session, released on The Bootleg Series 1-3 (1991)
[Chords]
G = 3-2-0-0-0-3
C/G = 3-3-2-0-1-0
D/F# = 2-0-0-2-3-2
G* = 3-x-x-x-x-x
B* = x-2-x-x-x-x
C* = x-3-x-x-x-x
A* = x-0-x-x-x-x
[* = play single note only]
[Intro- Harmonica]
G C/G G
C* B* A* G
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 1]
G
Oh, the age of the inmates
C/G 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 G
And cast off like criminals,
C* B* A* G
All In-side the walls,
D C* B* G
on the grounds of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 2]
G
From the dirty old mess hall
C/G G
You march to the brick wall,
Too weary to talk
G* B* C* D/F#
And too tired to sing.
G
And, it's all afternoon
C/G G
You remember your home town
C* B* A* G
All In-side the walls,
D C* B* G
The walls of Red Wing.
G D B* G
[Verse 3]
G
Oh, the gates are cast iron
C/G G
And the walls are barbed wire.
Stay far from the fence
G* B* C* D/F#
With the 'lec-tri-city sting.
G
And it's keep down your head
C* B* A* G
And stay in your number,
C*B* A* G
All Inside the grounds,
D C* B* G
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 4]
G
Oh, it's fare thee well
C/G G
To the deep hollow dungeon,
Farewell to the boardwalk
G* B* C* D/F#
That takes you to screen.
G
farewell to the minutes
C/G G
They threaten you with it,
C* B* A* G
All In-side the grounds,
D C* B* G
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 5]
G
It's many a_ guard
C/G G
That stands around smilin',
Holdin' his club
G* B* C* D/F#
Like he was a king.
G
Hopin' to get you
C* B* A* G
Behind the wood pilin',
C* B* A* G
All In-side the grounds,
D C* B* G
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 6]
G
The night aimed shadows
C/G G
Through the crossbar windows,
And the wind punched hard
G* B* C* D/F#
To make the wall-siding sing.
G
It's many a night
C/G G
I pretended to be a-sleepin',
C* B* A* G
All In-side the grounds,
D C* B* G
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 7]
G
As the rain rattled heavy
C/G G
On the bunk-house shingles,
And the sounds in the night
G* B* C* D/F#
They made my ears ring.
G
'Til the keys of the guards
C/G G
Clicked the tune of the morning,
C* B* A* G
All Ins-ide the grounds,
D C* B* G
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* G
[Verse 8]
G
Oh, some of us'll will up
C/G G
In St. Cloud Prison,
And some of us'll end up
G* B* C* D/F#
To be lawyers and things,
G
And some of us'll stand up
C/G G
To meet you on your crossroads,
C* B* A* G
From In-side the grounds,
D C* B* G
Of the walls of Red Wing.
G D/F# C* B* A* G