Well gather 'round and settle down
And listen to my tale
In the end you'll see
Why I'm happier each day
I smoke my cares away
I'm livin' in the penitentiary
Chorus:
I get three meals a day
I never have to pay
This place is perfect for me
I'll be here til I'm grey
But I'm happier this way
I'm livin' in the penitentiary
I had a knife I had a wife
They both were big and mean
One was sharp and one was dull
After a fight on a Saturday night
I sliced her up and smeared her on the wall
Chorus:
I get three meals a day
I never have to pay
Yeah this place is perfect for me
I'll be here in this place until my dying days
I'm rockin' in the penitentary
I know folks on the inside
They keep trying for appeals
But this place is perfect for me
I'm in for life, you see
That's why I'm fancy-free
I'm livin' in the penitentiary
Chorus:
I get three meals a day
I never have to pay
This place is perfect for me
I'll be here til I'm grey
I'm happier this way
I'm livin' in the penitentiary
Oh Lord I'm dyin' in this penitentiary