18. CHRISTMAS IN JAIL – AIN’T THAT A PAIN by Leroy Carr
Vocal with piano, with Francis "Scrapper" Blackwell - guitar.
Chicago, August 13, 1929.

The blues come fallin', they fall like drops of rain
The blues come fallin', they fall like drops of rain
I've got to spend my Christmas locked up in jail again
In jail on Christmas day again, ain't that a pain!
Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!

Oh Santa, Santa, Santa, come here to me in jail
Oh Santa, Santa, Santa, come here to me in jail
Bring me a Christmas present, someone to go my bail
Jail on Christmas day, again ain't that a pain!
Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!

This food here, Santa, it ain't fit to eat
This food here. Santa, it ain't fit to eat
Won't you come and bring me a plate of turkey meat?
In jail on Christmas day again, ain't that a pain!
Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!

The jailhouse blues have got me, they've got the best of me
The jailhouse blues have got me, they've got the best of me
My baby doesn't love me, I got no Christmas tree
In jail on Christmas day again, ain't that a pain!
Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!

Next to unrequited love, the jailhouse has inspired more blues than any other single topic. Adding a Christmas motif further guarantees the requisite pain and suffering. Leroy Carr of Indianapolis established his claim to immortality with "How Long, How Long Blues" in 1928, and could enjoy a bit of gentle blues satire in 1929, knowing that listeners were chuckling along with him.

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