The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin and the joint began to swing
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing

Lets rock, everybody, lets rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock

Spider murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little joe was blowin on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was the purple gang

Lets rock, everybody, lets rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock
Number forty-seven said to number three

You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me

Lets rock, everybody, lets rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock

The sad sack was a sittin on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin all alone
The warden said, hey, buddy, don't you be no square
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair

Lets rock, everybody, lets rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock

Shifty henry said to bugs, for heavens sake
No ones lookin, now's our chance to make a break
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, nix nix
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks

Lets rock, everybody, lets rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock