Johnny Cash - In the Jailhouse Now: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "In the Jailhouse Now" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn In the Jailhouse Now Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Johnny Cash

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "In the Jailhouse Now" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

C#
I had a friend named Bill Campbell
he used to rob steal and gamble
                                      F#
And on the side he'd beg so he mopped up
I told him he shouldn't do it and
Campbell told me he knew it
       D#7
So he started beggin' with a bucket
              G#
instead of a cup

Chorus:
 G#                    C#
He's in the jailhouse now
(he's in the jailhouse now)
                       F#
He's in the jailhouse now
(he's in the jailhouse now)
      G#
Well Campbell fluffed his
dove when he wore a tuxedo to the country club
                       C#
He's in the jailhouse now
(he's in the jailhouse now)

I met his old gal Sadie she said
have you seen Billy lately
I said I don't believe that he's about
She went down to the jail she went
down to take him his mail
Then she whispered sheriff please
don't let him out

Chorus

Well I remember the last election
the prohibitionists were in action
They's tryin' to elect themselves a president
Bill Canpbell and John Austin walked
from New Orleans to Boston
And they've got a bottle in every settlement

Chorus


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

C#

Guitar chord C#

D#7

Guitar chord D#7

F#

Guitar chord F#

G#

Guitar chord G#

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "In the Jailhouse Now" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "In the Jailhouse Now" by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash Song List