walls of red wing

oh

the age of the inmates

i remember quite freely: no younger than twelve

no older 'n seventeen

thrown in like bandits

and cast off like criminals

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

from the dirty old mess hall

you march to the brick wall

too weary to talk

and too tired to sing

oh

it's all afternoon

you remember your hometown

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

oh

the gates are cast iron

and the walls are barbed wire

stay far from the fence

with the 'lectricity sting

and it's keep down your head

and stay in your number

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

oh

it's fare thee well

to the deep hollow dungeon

farewell to the boardwalk

that takes you to the screen

and farewell to the minutes

they threaten you with it

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

it's many a guard

that stands around smilin'

holdin' his club

like he was a king

hopin' to get you

behind a wood pilin'

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

the night aimed shadows

through the crossbar windows

and the wind punched hard

to make the wall-siding sing

it's many a night

i pretended to be a-sleepin'

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

as the rain rattled heavy

on the bunkhouse shingles

and the sounds in the night

they made my ears ring

'til the keys of the guards

clicked the tune of the morning

inside the walls

the walls of red wing

oh

some of us'll end up

in st. cloud prison

and some of us'll wind up

to be lawyers and things

and some of us'll stand up

to meet you on your crossroads

from inside the walls

the walls of red wing