Jailhouse

Album: Sublime (1996)
Play Video
  • And I won't give it up to you
    And I feel love, feel love

    Jailhouse gets empty
    Rudy gets plenty
    The baton stick gets shorter
    Rudy gets taller
    Can't fight against the youth
    'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people
    Can't fight against the youth
    'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people

    When I was a youth in 1983
    Was the best day of my life, had the 89 vision
    We didn't fuss or no fight
    When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
    It was playin' on my guitar, on my guitar

    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there

    When the rhythm playin'
    I know that I'm gonna be there yeah
    Bud Gaugh will be singing there
    And Eric Wilson will be bangin' up there, yeah
    Oh and we'll be all singin', with version, with version, reggae version, reggae version, version, oh

    What has been told to the wise and up-rooted
    Yeah, it's gonna be revealed unto, and Sublime
    Rudy Rudy Rudy
    Can't fight against the youth, right now
    Them are rude, rude people
    Can't fight against the resistance, oh right now
    Them are rude, rude people

    We gonna rule this land among children
    We gonna rule this land

    'Cause when that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
    On my guitar

    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there

    When I was a youth it was the best day
    It was the best day of my life
    We had the 89' vision

    We didn't fuss or no fight
    When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
    When that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
    On my guitar

    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    I had to be there
    Had to be there

    Jailhouse gets empty
    Rudy gets plenty
    Baton stick gets shorter
    Rudy gets taller, taller
    And fight against the youth
    'Cause we're strong, and we're rude, rude people
    Can't fight against the youth Writer/s: CLEMENT DODD, JOHN HOLT, WARREN WILLIAMS
    Publisher: THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Hugo Bre from MaCLassic. The sheep came home, ....from the castles made of sand. The 2am vibe, 3 up, 4 bagels, 5 water, SUNRISE, New England Surf---
    surfs up. solid tunes with vibe. The Vibe is right. 1
  • Wendie from Houston, TxRudy is referring to rude boys which were the rebels that influenced change of the popular genre ska to reggae, in Jamaica. So most reggae artists that say Rudy are talking about those kids.
  • Brad from Columbus, OhThis is also a (partial) cover of Tenor Saw's song "Roll Call". If you like reggae and never heard his stuff...check him out.
  • Amanda from Manchester, NhThis song makes me think about how much bigger they could have been if Bradley hadn't died. At least Bud and Eric formed Long Beach Dub All-Stars. My favorite line of the song is 'Oh Bud Gaugh will be singin there And Eric Wilson will be bangin' up there, yeah Oh, and we'll be all singin'
    It definately reminds me of them singing at a party and just having a ball.
  • Scott from Canton, OhHow come more people do not comment on Sublime songs? They are full of hidden meanings and messages, and besides Sublime is a great band. Jailhouse is a great party song, like any other Sublime mixes.
  • Torey from Santa Fe, NmSublime also mentions Rudy in the song "D.J.'s" , where they cover a part of the hit rocksteady/ska song "A message to you, Rudie" (Rudie is the the original spelling) by The Specials, off their 1967 self-titled album.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.