We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Percy's song

from 52 Folk Songs: Indigo by Phil Edwards

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £0.52 GBP

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

lyrics

Bad news, bad news come to me where I sleep
- Turn, turn, turn again
'One of your friends is in trouble deep'
- Turn, turn to the rain and the wind

O what is the trouble, tell it to my ear.
'It's Joliet prison and ninety-nine years.'

What is the charge, how did this come to be?
'Manslaughter in the highest degree.'

I sat down and wrote the best words I could write,
Explaining to the judge I'd be there on Wednesday night.

Without a reply, I left by the moon,
And was in his chambers by the next afternoon.

O what are the facts? I asked without fear,
That a friend of mine would get ninety-nine years.

'A crash on the highway flew a car to a field.
There was four persons killed and your friend was at the wheel.

But I know that man like I know myself,
And he wouldn't harm a life that belonged to someone else.

The judge then he spoke out of the side of his mouth,
Sayin', 'The witness who saw, he left little doubt.'

That may be true, he's got a sentence to serve,
But ninety-nine years he just don't deserve.

'Too late, too late, for his case it is sealed.
His sentence is passed and it can't be repealed.'

But he is no criminal, his crime it is none.
What happened to him could happen to anyone.

Then the judge jerked forward and his face it did freeze,
Sayin', 'Could you kindly leave my office now, please.'

Well his face looked funny and I stood up so slow,
With no other choice except for to go.

I walked down the hallway and I heard his door slam,
I walked down the courthouse stairs and I did not understand.

And I played my guitar through the night to the day,
- Turn, turn, turn again.
And the only tune my guitar could play
Was, "Oh the Cruel Rain And the Wind."

credits

from 52 Folk Songs: Indigo, released November 1, 2011
By Bob Dylan
Phil Edwards: vocals, D whistle, melodica

license

tags

about

Phil Edwards Manchester, UK

contact / help

Contact Phil Edwards

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Phil Edwards, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now