The Dead by Dylan

Title: Viola Lee Blues
Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: The Dead by Dylan (Track #7)
Duration: 04:35
Label: Sony Music Entertainment

(written by Noah Lewis) (original lyrics:) The judge he pleaded, the clerk he wrote it The clerk he wrote it down indeed-e The judge decreed it, the clerk he wrote it down If you miss jail sentence, you must be Nashville bound Some got six months, some got one solid Some got one solid year, indeed Lord Some got six months, some got one solid year But me and my buddy, we got lifetime here Fix my supper, mama, let me go to Let me go to bed, indeed Lord Fix my supper, let me go to bed I've been drinking white lightning, and it just gone to my head (lyrics sung by Grateful Dead:) The judge decreed it, the clerk he wrote it (note1) The clerk he wrote it down indeed-e The judge decreed it, the clerk he wrote it down If you miss jail sentence, you'll be Nashville bound (note2) Some got six months, some got one solid Some got one solid year, indeed-e Some got six months, some got one solid year But me and my buddy, we got lifetime here I wrote a letter, mailed it in the Mailed it in the air, indeed-e I wrote a letter, mailed it in the air You may know my brother, I've got a friend somewhere (note3) Notes (1) Gus Cannon's version sounds like "The judge he pleaded" but I think the Dead sing "decreed it" (2) it's not clear whether it's "If you miss jail sinner" or "If you miss jail sentence." I think the Dead sing the latter, though Gus Cannon's version sounds more like the former. (3) the Dead sometimes sang "You may know by that ..." (Thanks to Brian Schnapp and others for pointing this out)