Riot in Cell Block Number 9

"Riot In Cell Block #9" is a classic and pervasive R&B song composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The best-known version is The Robins' song from 1954, which hit #1 in the R&B charts.

Lyrics

In this song, a man is serving his sentence in federal prison for armed robbery. At 4:00 AM on July 2, 1953, he wakes up to a rather alarming disturbance: a jail riot! It started in cell block #4 and continued through the prison hall from cell to cell. The jailhouse warden, armed with a gun, threatens to electrocute all the prisoners if the riot doesn't stop soon, but one of them, Scarface Jones, retaliates by carrying dynamite. Forty-seven hours later, 3:00 AM on July 4, 1953, the prison security let loose tear gas on the inmates and they return to their cells.

Cover versions

The song has been covered by many cross-genre artists such as The Grateful Dead, Wanda Jackson, Vicki Young, Johnny Winter, Dr. Feelgood, The Blues Brothers, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Johnny Cash, The Coasters and Flat Duo Jets.

The Beach Boys reworked the song as "Student Demonstration Time" for the 1971 album Surf's Up. The Beach Boys originally covered the song for their 1965 album Beach Boys' Party! but was never released until they put a version on their 2011 album Live & Alternative Songs.

It was also translated and performed in French by Michel Pagliaro as "Emeute dans la prison" (riot in the prison). In his version it was July 13, 1968 at 4:00 am and originated in cell block #3. It was later covered by Eric Lapointe.