[Dixielandjazz] Gangster tunes

[Bill Haesler]

> The Prisoner's Song...
> Cell Block 7's theme song...did anyone mention that classic yet?
> "Oh if I had the wing's of an angel..."

Dear Bob,
Yes, it was mentioned several times but, notwithstanding two great 
versions (Wingy Manone and Bunny Berigan) and its copyright date, it 
goes back much earlier and is more a 'country' song than a piece about 
the 'roaring 20s', Prohibition and Chicago gangsters.
Kind regards,
Bill.

THE PRISONER'S SONG (1924. Guy Massey)
Oh, I wish I had someone to love me,
Someone to call me their own.
Oh, I wish I had someone to live with
'Cause I'm tired of livin' alone.

Oh, please meet me tonight in the moonlight,
Please meet me tonight all alone,
For I have a sad story to tell you,
It's a story that's never been told.

I'll be carried to the new jail tomorrow,
Leaving my poor darling alone,
With the cold prison bars all around me
And my head on a pillow of stone.

Now I have a grand ship on the ocean,
All mounted with silver and gold,
And before my poor darlin' would suffer,
Oh, that ship would be anchored and sold.

Now if I had the wings of an angel
Over these prison walls I would fly,
And I'd fly to the arms of my poor darlin',
And there I'd be willing to die.