The Walls and the Rain

Stone walls all around me, iron in the ground,

Lord, stone walls around me, cold iron in the ground,

Been so long since I heard a mercy sound.

Mama used to sing me when the evening would fall,

Mmm, mama used to sing me when the evening would fall,

Now all I hear is the guard and the rain on the wall.

I wonder does she know me, wonder does she pray,

Lord, I wonder does my mama know me, does she still pray,

Or did her boy go so far down she turned her face away.

I got a woman in Clarksdale, wrote her name in my palm,

Said I got a woman in Clarksdale, wrote her name in my palm,

By the time these walls release me, will she still be warm

She had eyes like still water and a voice like a hymn,

Lord, eyes like still water, voice soft as a hymn,

Now I'm lying on a corn-sack and the candle's burning dim.

Captain says ten years, Lord, the judge said more,

Mmm, captain says ten years, but the judge said more,

And I can't count the seasons that have passed before.

Some men leave these walls, Lord, and some men don't,

Yeah, some men leave these walls and some poor men don't,

I been prayin' for a pardon but I fear that it won't.

f you see my mama, tell her I still know her face.

If you find my woman... tell her I still know her grace.

But don't tell either one... where I am... or this place.