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