Intro
D G/D D
C* B* A* D
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 1]
D
Oh, the age of the inmates
G/D D
I remember quite freely:
No younger than twelve,
G* B* C* A/C#
No older 'n seventeen.
D
Thrown in like bandits
G/D D
And cast off like criminals,
C* B* A* D
All In-side the walls,
A C* B* D
on the grounds of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 2]
D
From the dirty old mess hall
G/D D
You march to the brick wall,
Too weary to talk
G* B* C* A/C#
And too tired to sing.
D
And, it's all afternoon
G/D D
You remember your home town
C* B* A* D
All In-side the walls,
A C* B* D
The walls of Red Wing.
D A B* D
[Verse 3]
D
Oh, the gates are cast iron
G/D D
And the walls are barbed wire.
Stay far from the fence
G* B* C* A/C#
With the 'lec-tri-city sting.
D
And it's keep down your head
C* B* A* D
And stay in your number,
C*B* A* D
All Inside the grounds,
A C* B* D
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 4]
D
Oh, it's fare thee well
G/D D
To the deep hollow dungeon,
Farewell to the boardwalk
G* B* C* A/C#
That takes you to screen.
D
farewell to the minutes
G/D D
They threaten you with it,
C* B* A* D
All In-side the grounds,
A C* B* D
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 5]
D
It's many a_ guard
G/D D
That stands around smilin',
Holdin' his club
G* B* C* A/C#
Like he was a king.
D
Hopin' to get you
C* B* A* D
Behind the wood pilin',
C* B* A* D
All In-side the grounds,
A C* B* D
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 6]
D
The night aimed shadows
G/D D
Through the crossbar windows,
And the wind punched hard
G* B* C* A/C#
To make the wall-siding sing.
D
It's many a night
G/D D
I pretended to be a-sleepin',
C* B* A* D
All In-side the grounds,
A C* B* D
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 7]
D
As the rain rattled heavy
G/D D
On the bunk-house shingles,
And the sounds in the night
G* B* C* A/C#
They made my ears ring.
D
'Til the keys of the guards
G/D D
Clicked the tune of the morning,
C* B* A* D
All Ins-ide the grounds,
A C* B* D
Of the walls of Red Wing.
B* C* B* A* D
[Verse 8]
D
Oh, some of us'll will up
G/D D
In St. Cloud Prison,
And some of us'll end up
G* B* C* A/C#
To be lawyers and things,
D
And some of us'll stand up
G/D D
To meet you on your crossroads,
C* B* A* D
From In-side the grounds,
A C* B* D
Of the walls of Red Wing.
D A/C# C* B* A* G