My Mom Would Sing This Song Everytime She Was Involved In Something In the House, Whether It Be Washing Windows or Parinting Walls ... ♥ ♥ If I Had My Life to Live Over, Over These Prison Walls I Would Fly, I Would Fly to the Arms of My Loved One And There I Would Be Willing to Die :( ♥ mhtupot
This was the biggest hit in the entire first 50 years of recorded music. 12 weeks at #1 and 32 weeks on the charts (which then consisted of only the top 10 or 15).
My dad tells me his Mother used to sing this song to him at bedtime...back in the dirty 30's...when mothers did those things...grand ma is long gone but her memory will live in our hearts forever with this song...
I was digging through my old 78s yesterday, and found the original Edison recording from 1924. He move on to Victor label, later RCA and recorded another version there.
My Grandpa Joe used to sing this song all the time. We used to say to him but you do have lots of people who love you. lol. Thank you for posting this oldy but goody.
this song was made by a prisoner that was given his freedom by the governor at the time because of a lot of out crys from folks that sang this wonderful song the feeling at the time was how could a person that write this song be so bad and he was set free by the governor its a nice story you should read up on him his song was song by the governor too thats how good it was and still is
I head this song back in 1961 on my Dad's record -- "50-Years of Music America Loved".....RCA --- I still have my dad's record --- and this song brings back many fond memories of dad and me singing and having fun. Thank you for your posting.
NOT gay song. 1.) Old songs were often collections of various disconnected statements and fragments to begin with (wildwood flower) 2.) Listen to the final lyrics and relate them to the first-- fly OVER the prison walls to the darling on the OUTSIDE.. 3.) The time period--and precedent to other songs of the era. Any composed song could be lost to time what the writer meant--but this wasnt one of them 4.)the composer--other lyrics show no such pattern or association or known lifestyle
The Prisoners song was written by a man name ( Guy Massey ) back in 1925, I don't know if he was British or not I, love the song and I sing it now and then at my Gold Coast Country Music Club on the east coast of Australia.
In the original British version of the song, the words were "I'll be carried to Newgate tomorrow"--a reference to the famous Newgate prison near the Old Baily (where the trials were held). The Prisoner is going there from a holding cell in the Old Baily and saying good-bye to his beloved in the outside.
Dalhart just picked up a somewhat corrupted folk text and used it--probably without much thought
The lyrics say: "I will be carried to the NEW jail tomorrow, leaving my poor darlin alone" - implying that his poor darlin was in the OLD prison. That means this might be homosexual love song - homosexuality is rife in prisons.
Vernon Dalhart's real name was Marion Slaughter. Vernon and Dalhart are two town in Texas, not far apart. He just took the names for his stage name.
He was Married with kids, and was probably straight. That doesn't mean the lyrics of this song are not gay though.
i mentioned to Mac Wiseman at a show one time after he sang this song that when i worked as an Officer at Sing Sing Prison. in the evening we would send the inmates out to the yard. i would lean up against the wall and have this song going thru my head over and over. the last verse is soooooo sad.
this is the song that started country, folk, bluegrass music as we know it today, this was the great hit - as my great uncle once commented oh that is that old floyd collins song, they played when he was stuck in mamoth cave
This version of the Prisoner's Song sung by Vernon Dalhart was the first record to ever sell 1 million copies
doug244a 1 month ago
My Mom Would Sing This Song Everytime She Was Involved In Something In the House, Whether It Be Washing Windows or Parinting Walls ... ♥ ♥ If I Had My Life to Live Over, Over These Prison Walls I Would Fly, I Would Fly to the Arms of My Loved One And There I Would Be Willing to Die :( ♥ mhtupot
mhtupot 2 months ago
A classic !
AlexMoby 4 months ago
This was the biggest hit in the entire first 50 years of recorded music. 12 weeks at #1 and 32 weeks on the charts (which then consisted of only the top 10 or 15).
vinylsingleman 5 months ago
My dad tells me his Mother used to sing this song to him at bedtime...back in the dirty 30's...when mothers did those things...grand ma is long gone but her memory will live in our hearts forever with this song...
Hersheybrook 9 months ago
I was digging through my old 78s yesterday, and found the original Edison recording from 1924. He move on to Victor label, later RCA and recorded another version there.
The 78 weighs like 2 lbs!
panheadgreg 9 months ago
Number one song of 1925
dahsuerk 10 months ago
My Grandpa Joe used to sing this song all the time. We used to say to him but you do have lots of people who love you. lol. Thank you for posting this oldy but goody.
shoggysheep 1 year ago
this song was made by a prisoner that was given his freedom by the governor at the time because of a lot of out crys from folks that sang this wonderful song the feeling at the time was how could a person that write this song be so bad and he was set free by the governor its a nice story you should read up on him his song was song by the governor too thats how good it was and still is
merbenzgill 1 year ago 4
This is one of my favorite songs. I know it is down trodden, but anybody could relate to his plight if they were placed in the same position.
patoman881 1 year ago 2
I head this song back in 1961 on my Dad's record -- "50-Years of Music America Loved".....RCA --- I still have my dad's record --- and this song brings back many fond memories of dad and me singing and having fun. Thank you for your posting.
ctmale1956 1 year ago
NOT gay song. 1.) Old songs were often collections of various disconnected statements and fragments to begin with (wildwood flower) 2.) Listen to the final lyrics and relate them to the first-- fly OVER the prison walls to the darling on the OUTSIDE.. 3.) The time period--and precedent to other songs of the era. Any composed song could be lost to time what the writer meant--but this wasnt one of them 4.)the composer--other lyrics show no such pattern or association or known lifestyle
phantomvibrationsX 1 year ago
Also known by the title, "I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me".
The Dubliners also did a fine version of this.
OfficialArmonist 1 year ago
im stage managering a hortin foote play that has a female lead singing parts of this song in it!! i had no idea this song was so depressing!
meldawn21 1 year ago
Marion Try Slaughter (April 6, 1883 - September 14, 1948)
born in Marion County, Jefferson, Texas, stage name Vernon Dalhart
inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970,
into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1981 &
into the Gennett Records Walk of Fame in 2007.
Dalhart died in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1948 & is interred there in the Mountain Grove Cemetery.
My Dad played the guitar & sang this song. Thanks for posting
TTexas2 1 year ago
The Prisoners song was written by a man name ( Guy Massey ) back in 1925, I don't know if he was British or not I, love the song and I sing it now and then at my Gold Coast Country Music Club on the east coast of Australia.
ungarie46 1 year ago 2
@ungarie46
Wasn't this 1924?
sega31098 11 months ago
WOW!! Someone REMEMBERS Vernon Dalhart besides MEEE!! xoxooxx
Bottledgr43 1 year ago
In the original British version of the song, the words were "I'll be carried to Newgate tomorrow"--a reference to the famous Newgate prison near the Old Baily (where the trials were held). The Prisoner is going there from a holding cell in the Old Baily and saying good-bye to his beloved in the outside.
Dalhart just picked up a somewhat corrupted folk text and used it--probably without much thought
Lamfada 1 year ago
The lyrics say: "I will be carried to the NEW jail tomorrow, leaving my poor darlin alone" - implying that his poor darlin was in the OLD prison. That means this might be homosexual love song - homosexuality is rife in prisons.
Vernon Dalhart's real name was Marion Slaughter. Vernon and Dalhart are two town in Texas, not far apart. He just took the names for his stage name.
He was Married with kids, and was probably straight. That doesn't mean the lyrics of this song are not gay though.
kcifkcuf 2 years ago
My grandpa loves this song
cutiewhiskers 2 years ago
How I remember my mom singing this song over and over again especially when she was washing windows or the walls :(
mhtupot 2 years ago
I love your mom.
ArwenApathy 2 years ago
i mentioned to Mac Wiseman at a show one time after he sang this song that when i worked as an Officer at Sing Sing Prison. in the evening we would send the inmates out to the yard. i would lean up against the wall and have this song going thru my head over and over. the last verse is soooooo sad.
hawkeye4771 2 years ago
This is the definitive version of this great song. I think so anyway!
Thank you for sharing.
Corrie121 2 years ago
Wew... It's so cool men. I love this song!!!!!!
Khrisgerald777 2 years ago
believe it or not my father of 79 yrs. old has an original 78 slate recording of this in mint condition!!
mcdaniel01 3 years ago
78s were made from shellac, not slate...
Oldiesmann 1 year ago
this is the song that started country, folk, bluegrass music as we know it today, this was the great hit - as my great uncle once commented oh that is that old floyd collins song, they played when he was stuck in mamoth cave
josephpeter2000 3 years ago