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Q: Music and Lyrics ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Music and Lyrics
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: 1god-ga
List Price: $2.00
Posted: 08 Aug 2002 17:22 PDT
Expires: 07 Sep 2002 17:22 PDT
Question ID: 52394
I am looking for the music and words to an OLD song that has these
words in it:  IF I HAD THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL OVER THESE PRISON WALLS I
WOULD FLY -- I'D FLY TO THE ARMS OF MY DARLING AND THERE I'D BE
WILLING TO DIE.  Can you help?
Answer  
Subject: Re: Music and Lyrics
Answered By: pinkfreud-ga on 08 Aug 2002 18:13 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Many online sources say (incorrectly) that this is an anonymous chain
gang ballad, but it was actually written in 1924 by Guy and Robert
Massey. The song was first recorded in 1924 by Vernon Dalhart, and was
a hit many decades later for both Eddy Arnold and Bill Monroe. "The
Prisoner's Song" has been featured in several motion picture
soundtracks.

The Prisoner's Song

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. 

The lyrics, and quite a bit about the song's history, may be found on
this site:

Bob Dylan Roots: The Prisoner's Song
http://www.bobdylanroots.com/prisoner.html

Piano, vocal, and guitar sheet music for "The Prisoner's Song" may be
found in the "Country Music Hall of Fame - Volume Three" collection,
available here:

Encore Music
http://www.encoremusic.com/piano/1700685.htm

Search strategy:

Google: "wings of an angel" + "prisoners song"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22wings+of+an+angel%22+%22prisoners+song

Google: "sheet music" + "prisoner's song"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22sheet+music%22+%22prisoner%27s+song

AlltheWeb.com: "guy massey"
http://alltheweb.com/search?cat=web&cs=utf-8&l=any&q=guy+massey&phrase=on

Thanks for asking about a song with an interesting history. I hope
this answer is useful to you. Please ask for clarification if it is
needed.

Best regards,
pinkfreud
1god-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars
I truly appreciate such a quick and complete answer to my question.
There different people waiting for this, and now I will be able to
give it to them. Thank You very much. And God Bless!!

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