Story Behind The Song

tongue in cheek blues tune about a redneck plans on starting his own prison! William Brooks bio Country Blues Folk Rocker, William Brooks was born in southern Oklahoma, between the cool shade of the Arbuckle Mountains and the endless turns of the promiscuous Red River. Relocated to The People's Republic of Brooklyn, William's music has been heard on "The Late Show" with David Letterman and CBS's primetime comedy "how i met your mother", the international release of Adam Carrolla's "The Hammer", Good Day New York and VH1. His film music credits include The Dinner Party, Out of the Garden, Underground New York and American Jehad. As a performer, William has played all over the country but still calls NYC home. Gotham's most notable digs from CBGB's to Cafe Siné, The Bitter End, The Public Theater, The Continental Divide, Arlene Grocery, Wetlands, The Stephen Talkhouse, Webster Hall, Tramps, Fez, and about every club on NYC's famous Bleecker Street. William has been honored as a New Folk Finalist at America's most respected folk music festival, The Kerrville Folk Festival. He is also a recipient of the Meet the Composer Grant from New York State Council on the Arts. Under the banner of collaborator, his works have been performed at The Songwriter's Hall of Fame, Songwriter's Guild of America Pro Shop and the prestigious New York Songwriter's Circle.

Song Description

The horrific price anyone can pay with the privatizations of the prison system.

Lyrics

Warden Pale's Big Profit Prison Plan
©brooks(bmi)
Gonna build me a prison on that land out back
State'll pay me plenty, man to pick up slack
They got too many convicts, m makin' more everyday
I'm gone storage business with the US of A
Need some steel and brick and bulletproof glass
Line my cousins up to guard that trash

Gonna loan them boys to farms and local mills,
Problem's where to hide all them hundred dollar bills
If food goes up I'll feed'em a little less
Doctor want more I'll trade him for a vet
Go ahead complain there's nothing you can do
I'm incorporated with the Red White and Blue

The jury pass the verdict.
The judge he give the time
But if your fate's behind my gate, you bet your ass is mine
'cause I have all the power, I turn every key
I say if you think or speak and if you choke or breath
If you try to climb the wall to get away from me
I'll just set them hound dogs free


I ain't gonna sweat no vacant eight by tens
When I can just give a call to my sheriff friend
And if he ain't got a handy felon or two
We can just cruise around, maybe look for you
A man can go far with a right pretty mouth
And we reward good behavior in the Deep Hot South

The witness point the finger.
The lawyers spin the tale
But if you fall behind my wall, you better tuck your tail
'cause I'm your brand new daddy, I'm the brand new king
I say when you speak or beg and maybe let you scream
And if you try to tunnel, cover up your trail
Heaven help ya', we'll just let them sirens wail

If the Marshal drive you in
No appeal can get you out
But, Once you come under my thumb, abandon any doubt
See, I bought the courthouse, everything's for sale
I say if a law's been broke, and who's making bail
And if you try to buy the farm, hoping that we're through
Big surprise my old friend, I bought the graveyard too