A tale of one man's struggles in and out of Parchman penal farm in Mississippi.
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Story behind the song
The Blues and Parchman Farm are synonymous. Many early Delta Blues musicians traveled through that prison farm at one time or another and Blues history was made and recorded there. A Convict's Tale is my version of the experience but it could be right on the money.
Lyrics
A CONVICT’S TALE
I’m standin’ on this lonely back road – Just waitin’ for a ride
To take where I can free my soul and restore my pride
Lord my heart is weary and my body is so tired
( let me tell you why )
I spent nine long years down on that Parchman farm
Ball on my ankle and shackles on my arms
I done my time bent over from the load
Now I’m standin’ here waitin’ on this lonely back road
Now I’m rollin’ down the highway headin’ home – Just takin’ my time
Thinkin’ ‘bout everything I’ve been thru – Ain’t no reason or no rhyme
‘Cause I never was a guilty man and I never done no crime
( this is how it went down )
The jury give the verdict and then the gavel fell
Whatever really happened – Nobody let me tell
Time passed slowly and my mind did roam
Now I’m rollin’ down the highway on my way back home
Trouble ain’t gonna hound me no more – Rest of my days
Ain’t gonna hang round no barroom door – Done changed my ways
‘Cause the devil is inside there and he’s bound to make you pay
( and that’s the truth )
My mama she done told me not to go down to town
She told me it was trouble and trouble I found
It started when I walked thru that barroom door
But trouble ain’t gonna come and hound ME NO MORE
