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