Oh, the age of the inmates
I remember quite freely:
No younger than twelve,

No older 'n seventeen.
Thrown in like bandits
And cast off like criminals,

Inside the walls,
The walls of Red Wing.


From the dirty old mess hall
You march to the brick wall,
Too weary to talk

And too tired to sing.
Oh, it's all afternoon
You remember your home town,

Inside the walls,
The walls of Red Wing.


Oh, the gates are cast iron
And the walls are barbed wire.
Stay far from the fence

With the 'lectricity sting.
And it's keep down your head
And stay in your number,

Inside the walls,
The walls of Red Wing.


Oh, it's fare thee well
To the deep hollow dungeon,
Farewell to the boardwalk

That takes you to the screen.
And farewell to the minutes
They threaten you with it,

Inside the walls,
The walls of Red Wing.


It's many a guard
That stands around smilin',
Holdin' his club

Like he was a king.
Hopin' to get you
Behind a wood pilin',

Inside the walls,
The walls of Red Wing.


The night aimed shadows
Through the crossbar windows,
And the wind punched hard

To make the wall-siding sing.
It's many a night I pretended to be a-sleepin',
Inside the walls,

The walls of Red Wing.

As the rain rattled heavy

On the bunk-house shingles,
And the sounds in the night,
They made my ears ring.

'Til the keys of the guards
Clicked the tune of the morning,
Inside the walls,

The walls of Red Wing.

Oh, some of us'll end up

In St. Cloud Prison,
And some of us'll wind up
To be lawyers and things,

And some of us'll stand up
To meet you on your crossroads,
From inside the walls,

The walls of Red Wing.