Walls Of Red Wing

walls of red wing words and music bob dylan recorded apr 24 , 1963 , at the last freewheelin’ session , released on the bootleg series 1 - 3 ( 1991 ) tabbed by eyolf strem G oh , the age of the inmates C G i remember quite freely : no younger than twelve , G /B /C D/F# no older ’n seventeen . G thrown in like bandits C G and cast off like criminals , C /B /A G inside the walls , D /C /B G on the grounds 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 home town , 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 bunk - house 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 .