In the Jailhouse Now - wikipedia In the Jailhouse Now `` In the Jailhouse Now '' is an American novelty blues song originally found in vaudeville performances from the early 20th century, usually credited to Jimmie Rodgers. The song 's first two verses trace the exploits of Ramblin ' Bob, who cheats at cards and gets caught, while the final verse tells about taking a girl named Susie out on the town and winding up in jail together. Contents 1 Jimmie Rodgers recording 2 Recording and copyright history 3 See also 4 References Jimmie Rodgers recording Rodgers version of `` In the Jailhouse Now '' was recorded February 15, 1928, in Camden, New Jersey, and features Rodgers on vocals and guitar, with Ellsworth T. Cozzens playing banjo. Rodgers included his famous yodel throughout the song. He recorded a sequel titled `` In the Jailhouse Now -- No. 2 '' in Hollywood, California, in 1930, which follows the misadventures of a man named Campbell. Recording and copyright history `` In the Jailhouse Now '' Single by Webb Pierce B - side `` I 'm Gonna Fall Out of Love with You '' Released December 1954 Format 7 '' Recorded December 3, 1954 Genre Country Label Decca 9 - 29391 Songwriter ( s ) Jimmie Rodgers and Elsie McWilliams Producer ( s ) Paul Cohen Webb Pierce singles chronology `` More and More '' ( 1954 ) `` In the Jailhouse Now '' ( 1954 ) `` I Do n't Care '' ( 1955 ) `` More and More '' ( 1954 ) `` In the Jailhouse Now '' ( 1955 ) `` I Do n't Care '' ( 1955 ) The song has been covered many times, most frequently with Jimmie Rodgers ' version. Artists who have sung it include Tommy Duncan, Webb Pierce, Pink Anderson, Johnny Cash, Jim Jackson, Leon Russell, Mother McCree 's Uptown Jug Champions ( featuring Jerry Garcia ), Merle Haggard, Doc Watson, Prism, Suzy Bogguss ( with Chet Atkins ), and Tim Blake Nelson with The Soggy Bottom Boys in the film and soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou ?. It was also one of the first songs learned by a teenage Joan Baez. The song shows up under different titles including `` He 's in the Jailhouse Now, '' and some versions use the line `` She 's in the graveyard now '' in the chorus. Prior to 1930, several different versions of it were recorded and copyrighted. The earliest is Davis and Stafford 's 1915 version, which has verses about a man named Campbell cheating at a card game and a corrupt election. In 1924, Whistler 's Jug Band from Louisville, Kentucky, recorded it under the title `` Jail House Blues, '' which was the same title as a famous blues tune by Bessie Smith but was, in fact, the same song as `` In the Jailhouse Now ''. In 1927, Earl McDonald 's Original Louisville Jug Band made another recording of the song. Two African - American bluesmen also recorded the song prior to Rodgers : Blind Blake ( in 1927 ), and Jim Jackson ( in January 1928 ). Jackson also copyrighted the song before Rodgers. Finally, in 1930, the Memphis Sheiks ( a pseudonym for the Memphis Jug Band ) recorded it in a version that scholars have often claimed, albeit mistakenly, was a cover of Jimmie Rodgers. The version of the melody and lyrics that they used, is clearly derived from the Louisville Jug Band performances, not Rodgers. On some of the Memphis Sheiks ' records, an African - American vaudeville performer named Bert Murphy is given credit for writing the song. Shortly after Rodgers recorded the song, three additional versions appeared that were decidedly not covers of Rodgers. Boyd Senter and his Senterpedes did a jazz version in 1929 for Victor Records ( issued on # 22010, and later reissued on Bluebird Records # 5545 ) ; Gene Kardos and His Orchestra also did a jazz version in 1932 for Victor ; and Billy Mitchell did a stride piano and shouter version of it in 1936 for the Bluebird label. After Rodgers, the best - known version of the song was by Webb Pierce, who had a No. 1 country hit with the song in 1955. Pierce 's version spent No. 1 on the Billboard country chart for 21 weeks, becoming the third song in the chart 's history to spend as long on the chart ; previously, Eddy Arnold ( `` I 'll Hold You in My Heart ( Till I Can Hold You in My Arms ), '' 1947 ) and Hank Snow ( `` I 'm Movin ' On, '' 1950 ) achieved the feat. For 58 years, those three songs held the longevity record for most weeks at No. 1 with 21 weeks, with only a handful of songs coming within a month of matching the record into the early 1960s. Finally, on August 10, 2013, `` Cruise '' by Florida Georgia Line surpassed Pierce 's `` In the Jailhouse Now '' for most weeks at No. 1 when it spent its 22nd week at No. 1. When Johnny Cash recorded the song in 1962, he used lyrics that are different from Jimmie Rodgers ' versions which Cash learned from the African - American jug band musicians in Memphis. In spite of this, most writers claim that Cash was covering Jimmie Rodgers ' song, which further obscures that the song originated with African - American performers and was kept alive in a vaudeville and jug band tradition for many decades. The song regained popularity years later when Sonny James recorded a live version during a 1976 concert at Tennessee State Prison. James ' version included backing by the Tennessee State Prison Band, and peaked at No. 15 on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1977. The Jimmie Rodgers version was sung by Gene Autry in his 1941 movie `` Back in the Saddle. '' In O Brother, Where Art Thou ?, `` Delmar '' ( Tim Blake Nelson ) sings a rendition, with `` Pete '' ( John Turturro ) yodeling between the verses, prior to the Soggy Bottom Boys ' main number, `` Man of Constant Sorrow ''. The other `` Soggy Bottom Boys '' songs are lip - synched, but Tim Blake Nelson sings his own vocals on this song, while Turturro 's yodeling is actually performed by Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band. In 1979, the song was done in a blackface performance in the musical One Mo ' Time by Vernel Bagneris. The musical was revived on Broadway in 2002. The version of the song used in the show was the same as that recorded by the Louisville Jug Bands in the 1920s. Brad Paisley used the chorus for the end of `` Mr. Policeman, '' a song on his 2007 album 5th Gear. New lyrics were written to provide an ending to the song 's story. See also `` Man of Constant Sorrow '' `` I 'll Fly Away '' References Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 131 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 119 Jump up ^ Jimmie Rodgers : The Life and Times of America 's Blue Yodeler, pp. 137 - 138 Jump up ^ Jimmie Rodgers : The Life and Times of America 's Blue Yodeler, p. 258 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 141,163 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 132 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 135 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 139 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 156 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 149 - 150 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 291 - 292 Jump up ^ Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone Online Discographical Project : Victor 22000 - 22500 Retrieved September 14, 2011 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, pp. 165 - 168 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 171 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, pp. 177 - 180 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 182 Jump up ^ Rowell, Erica ( 2007 ). The Brothers Grim : The Films of Ethan and Joel Coen. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 276 n. 59. ISBN 978 - 0810858503. Excerpts available at Google Books. Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 187 Jump up ^ The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, p. 188 Preceded by `` Loose Talk '' by Carl Smith Country & Western Best Sellers in Stores number one single by Webb Pierce February 26, 1955 Succeeded by `` I Do n't Care '' by Webb Pierce Preceded by `` I Do n't Hurt Anymore '' by Hank Snow Billboard C&W Best Sellers in Stores number - one single of the year 1955 Succeeded by `` Crazy Arms '' by Ray Price Johnny Cash Studio albums With His Hot and Blue Guitar Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous The Fabulous Johnny Cash Greatest ! Songs of Our Soil Sings Hank Williams Now, There Was a Song ! Now Here 's Johnny Cash The Sound of Johnny Cash All Aboard the Blue Train Ring of Fire : The Best of Johnny Cash The Original Sun Sound of Johnny Cash I Walk the Line Orange Blossom Special Everybody Loves a Nut Happiness Is You Old Golden Throat More of Old Golden Throat Hello, I 'm Johnny Cash The World of Johnny Cash Man in Black A Thing Called Love Any Old Wind That Blows Ragged Old Flag The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me John R. Cash Look at Them Beans One Piece at a Time The Last Gunfighter Ballad I Would Like to See You Again Gone Girl Silver Rockabilly Blues The Baron The Adventures of Johnny Cash Johnny 99 Rainbow Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town Classic Cash : Hall of Fame Series Water from the Wells of Home Boom Chicka Boom The Mystery of Life American Recordings Unchained American III : Solitary Man American IV : The Man Comes Around Personal File American V : A Hundred Highways American VI : Ai n't No Grave Out Among the Stars Concept albums Ride This Train Blood, Sweat and Tears Bitter Tears : Ballads of the American Indian Sings the Ballads of the True West From Sea to Shining Sea America : A 200 - Year Salute in Story and Song The Johnny Cash Children 's Album The Rambler Gospel albums Hymns by Johnny Cash Hymns from the Heart The Holy Land The Gospel Road ( film soundtrack ) Sings Precious Memories A Believer Sings the Truth Believe in Him Return to the Promised Land ( video soundtrack ) My Mother 's Hymn Book Christmas albums The Christmas Spirit The Johnny Cash Family Christmas Classic Christmas Johnny Cash Country Christmas Collaborations The Lure of the Grand Canyon Carryin ' On with Johnny Cash and June Carter Johnny Cash and His Woman The Legend of Jesse James The Survivors Live Highwayman Class of ' 55 Heroes Highwayman 2 The Road Goes on Forever VH1 Storytellers Live albums At Folsom Prison At San Quentin The Johnny Cash Show På Österåker Strawberry Cake Koncert v Praze ( In Prague -- Live ) At Madison Square Garden A Concert Behind Prison Walls Non-gospel soundtracks I Walk the Line Little Fauss and Big Halsy Compilations Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Heart of Cash Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Sunday Morning Coming Down International Superstar Five Feet High and Rising Destination Victoria Station Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 The Unissued Johnny Cash Johnny & June Tall Man Encore Biggest Hits The Man in Black 1954 -- 1958 The Man in Black 1959 -- 1962 Come Along and Ride This Train The Essential Johnny Cash ( 1992 ) Wanted Man The Man in Black 1963 -- 1969 The Man in Black -- His Greatest Hits 16 Biggest Hits Love, God, Murder The Essential Johnny Cash ( 2002 ) Unearthed The Legend The Legend of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash : Patriot 16 Biggest Hits : Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash The Legend of Johnny Cash Vol. II The Complete Columbia Album Collection Songs `` 25 Minutes to Go '' `` Seasons of My Heart '' `` Any Old Wind That Blows '' `` The Ballad of Boot Hill '' `` The Ballad of Ira Hayes '' `` Ballad of a Teenage Queen '' `` Big River '' `` Blistered '' `` A Boy Named Sue '' `` Busted '' `` Cat 's in the Cradle '' `` Cocaine Blues '' `` Cry ! 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'' `` Daddy Sang Bass '' `` Dark as a Dungeon '' `` Do n't Take Your Guns to Town '' `` Engine 143 '' `` Flesh and Blood '' `` The Folk Singer '' `` Folsom Prison Blues '' `` Forty Shades of Green '' `` Get Rhythm '' `` Give My Love to Rose '' `` Goodnight, Irene '' `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' `` Greystone Chapel '' `` Guess Things Happen That Way '' `` Hey, Porter '' `` Home of the Blues '' `` Hurt '' `` I Could n't Keep from Crying '' `` I Love You Because '' `` I Still Miss Someone '' `` I Walk the Line '' `` If I Had a Hammer '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` In My Life '' `` In the Jailhouse Now '' `` It Ai n't Me Babe '' `` Jackson '' `` Kate '' `` The Man Comes Around '' `` Man in Black '' `` The Matador '' `` Oh Lonesome Me '' `` One Piece at a Time '' `` Oney '' `` Orange Blossom Special '' `` The One on the Right Is on the Left '' `` Remember the Alamo '' `` ( Ghost ) Riders in the Sky '' `` Ring of Fire '' `` Rock Island Line '' `` So Doggone Lonesome '' `` Sunday Mornin ' Comin ' Down '' `` Tennessee Flat Top Box '' `` There Ai n't No Good Chain Gang '' `` A Thing Called Love '' `` Understand Your Man '' `` What Is Truth '' `` What 'd I Say '' Television The Johnny Cash Show Family June Carter Cash John Carter Cash Rosanne Cash Carlene Carter Vivian Liberto Tommy Cash Carter Family Related Albums discography Singles discography Sun Records discography The Highwaymen Carter Family Fold Man in Black : His Own Story in His Own Words Cash : The Autobiography Johnny Cash ! The Man, His World, His Music Walk the Line We Walk the Line : A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash Ring of Fire ( 2013 film ) Ring of Fire ( musical ) My Father and the Man in Black Dyess, Arkansas The Tennessee Three Book Sonny James Notable singles `` Young Love '' `` Lovesick Blues '' `` I Forgot More Than You 'll Ever Know '' `` Apache '' `` The Minute You 're Gone '' `` You 're the Only World I Know '' `` Behind the Tear '' `` Take Good Care of Her '' `` Need You '' `` I 'll Never Find Another You '' `` It 's the Little Things '' `` A World of Our Own '' `` Heaven Says Hello '' `` Born to Be with You '' `` Only the Lonely '' `` Running Bear '' `` Since I Met You Baby '' `` It 's Just a Matter of Time '' `` My Love '' `` Do n't Keep Me Hangin ' On '' `` Endlessly '' `` Empty Arms '' `` Bright Lights, Big City '' `` Here Comes Honey Again '' `` Only Love Can Break a Heart '' `` That 's Why I Love You Like I Do '' `` When the Snow Is on the Roses '' `` Is It Wrong ( For Loving You ) '' `` In the Jailhouse Now '' `` Abilene '' Related articles Discography Capitol Records Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=In_the_Jailhouse_Now&oldid=736514775 '' Categories : Jimmie Rodgers ( country singer ) songs Webb Pierce songs Johnny Cash songs Sonny James songs Willie Nelson songs Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles of the year American folklore Jim Croce songs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 28 August 2016, at 01 : 32. 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Question: who sang in the jailhouse now in o'brother where art thou
Answer: Tim Blake Nelson with The Soggy Bottom Boys