Title

Waitin' for the Evenin' Mail (Sittin' on the Inside, Lookin' at the Outside) / words by Billy Baskette

Authors

Billy Baskette
Waterson Berlin and Snyder Co. (New York)

Preview

Files

ISBN

MUM00682, 0299

Description

Cover: photograph of James Barton, a Caucasian male in blackface; Publisher: Waterson Berlin and Snyder Co. (New York)

Subject Headings (Library of Congress)

Songs -- United States -- 20th Century; Popular Music -- United States

Relational Format

music score

Original Format

scores

Original Collection

Sheldon Harris Collection (MUM00682), Archives and Special Collections, University of Mississippi Libraries

Finding Aid

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/finding_aids/322

Lyrics

Lyrics:
First verse
Passing by the jail this morn Heard a hard luck brother moan, I'm in here, Right where I don't belong, Never done no wrong. As I passed by his window, I could hear him moaning his song:
Chorus
Sittin' on the inside, Lookin' at the outside, Waitin' for the ev'nin' mail Four walls and a ceilin', Lawdy what a feelin', Just a mean old low down jail; Separatin' me from ev'rything but the ev'nin' mail, I'm like a ship without a sail. Wrote my one time mamma, Down in Jacksonville Said, Sweet mamma, I'm in jail, Honey, please don't fail me, Hurry up and mail me, bail, That's just a year ago, And I'm still on the inside, Lookin' at the outside, Waitin' for the ev'nin' mail. Sittin' on the inside, Lookin' at the outside, Waitin' for the ev'nin' mail Four walls and a ceilin', Lawdy what a feelin', Just a mean old low down jail; Separatin' me from ev'rything but the ev'nin' mail, I'm like a ship without a sail. Wrote my one time mamma, Down in Jacksonville Said, Sweet mamma, I'm in jail, Honey, please don't fail me, Hurry up and mail me, bail, That's just a year ago, And I'm still on the inside, Lookin' at the outside, Waitin' for the ev'nin' mail. Sittin' on the inside, Lookin' at the outside, Waitin' for the ev'nin' mail Four walls and a ceilin', Lawdy what a feelin', Just a mean old low down jail; Separatin' me from ev'rything but the ev'nin' mail, I'm like a ship without a sail. Wrote my one time mamma, Down in Jacksonville Said, Sweet mamma, I'm in jail, Honey, please don't fail me, Hurry up and mail me, bail, That's just a year ago, And I'm still on the inside, Lookin' at the outside, Waitin' for the ev'nin' mail.
Patter
- Had a letter handed to me, yesterday, From a mamma that I met on Mobile Bay, She said honey won't you please send me down some bail, They caught me foolin' with the ev'nin' mail. Had another letter from a man named Stout, Saying he was gonna get me, when I get out, Said that he was gonna meet me right at the gate, But he don't know how long he has to wait.
Second verse
Just as I passed by his way I could hear this brother say, Looks like I am in this jug to stay, Till a later day, My trial is called for Tuesday, On the twenty seventh of May.
(Chorus)
(Patter)

Content Disclaimer

Some of the images and language that appear in the digital collections depict prejudices that are not condoned by the University of Mississippi. This content is being presented as historical documentation to aid in the understanding of both American history and the history of the University of Mississippi. The University Creed speaks to our current deeply held values, and the availability of this content should not be taken as an endorsement of previous attitudes or behavior.