Back when I first came to this town
I was hanging round the bus station cafe
Minding my own business
Like I always do
And I thought I check out the action
Like I always do
And I gave this waitress a big eye
And made a few choices personal comments
About what I thought mine and her possibilities
Could be for a team
When she called the badge on me
The badge grabbed me by the arm and said
"Hey, boy
What are you doing hanging around here for?"
And I said, "For whatever's going around"
City jail
City jail
Like an old scared dog I tuck my tail
I hung my head and not a careless word I said
I got to sleep on the floor once more
At city jail
He said, "No, what I mean is
What are you doing
Saying things like that to that lady?"
And I said, "What's that lady's doing with purple hair?"
Well, the badge said, "You're smart Alec, ain't you, boy?"
And I said, "No, sir, I'm just hungry"
And he said, "Well, you're acting like a smart Alec"
And I said, "Well, that's how I act when I get hungry"
City jail
City jail
Like an old scared dog I tuck my tail
I hung my head and not a careless word I said
I got to sleep on the floor once more
At city jail
Well, he took me outside to a dark corner
And before I could say, "Hypocrite"
He hit me on the head
And I said, "Don't hit me on the head
I can't protect myself with the handcuffs on"
Then he hit me again
He hit me again
And I said
"Please, don't stand on my feet when you hit me
I break my ankles when I fall"
City jail
City jail
Like an old scared dog I tuck my tail
I hung my head and not a careless word I said
I got to sleep on the floor once more
At city jail
Well, about that time they threw me in the wagon
That waitress walked out with a sailor
And I said, "Hey you
Not you, sailor
I'm talking to the purple people eater
You, lady"
Quote
You're the cause of it all
Unquote
Then she said to that sailor
She said, "Get me away from that horrible man, Harry"
And as they hauled me away I said
"Everybody have a nice evening"
City jail
City jail
Like an old scared dog I tuck my tail
I hung my head and not a careless word I said
I got to sleep on the floor once more
At city jail
I got to sleep on the floor once more
At city jail