A Week in a Country Jail
Encyclopedia
"A Week in a Country Jail" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music
artist Tom T. Hall
. It was released in November 1969 as the third and final single
from his 1969 studio album Homecoming. The song was Hall's fifth release to reach the U.S. country singles chart and the first of six number-ones. "A Week in a Country Jail" stayed at the top for two weeks and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart.
being arrested for speeding. He spends the night in a jail cell, being served hot bologna, eggs and gravy and, during his prolonged stay, becomes interested in the jailer's wife. After seven days, the inmate is finally lectured on traffic laws by the judge who takes "every nickel he had" and releases him.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall
Thomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
. It was released in November 1969 as the third and final single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from his 1969 studio album Homecoming. The song was Hall's fifth release to reach the U.S. country singles chart and the first of six number-ones. "A Week in a Country Jail" stayed at the top for two weeks and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart.
Content
The song begins with the protagonistProtagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
being arrested for speeding. He spends the night in a jail cell, being served hot bologna, eggs and gravy and, during his prolonged stay, becomes interested in the jailer's wife. After seven days, the inmate is finally lectured on traffic laws by the judge who takes "every nickel he had" and releases him.
Chart performance
| Chart (1969–1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 32 |