There was a friend of mine on murder
And the judge’s gavel fell
Jury found him guilty
Gave him sixteen years in hell
He said “I ain’t spending my life here
I ain’t livin’ alone
Ain’t breakin’ no rocks on the chain gang
I’m breakin’ out and heading home”
Gonna make a (jailbreak)
And I’m looking towards the sky
I’m gonna make a (jailbreak)
Oh, how I wish that I could fly
All in the name of liberty
All in the name of liberty
Got to be free
(Jailbreak), let me outta here
(Jailbreak), sixteen years
(Jailbreak), had more than I can take
(Jailbreak)
He said he’d seen his lady being fooled with
By another man
She was down and he was up
Had a gun in his hand
Bullets started flying everywhere
People start to scream
Big man lyin’ on the ground
With a hole in his body
Where his life had been
But it was all in the name of liberty
All in the name of liberty
I got to be free
(Jailbreak)
(Jailbreak)
I got to break out
Out of here
Heartbeats, they were racing
Freedom, he was chasin’
Spotlights, sirens
Rifles firing
But he made it out
…with a bullet in his back
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Breaking Free: The Story Behind “Jailbreak”
“Jailbreak” by AC/DC is a quintessential hard rock anthem that captures the desperation and determination of a man wrongly imprisoned. The protagonist, sentenced to sixteen years for murder, refuses to accept a life behind bars. Driven by a powerful yearning for freedom and justice, he orchestrates a daring escape, embodying the rebellious spirit that defines much of AC/DC’s music. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of tension, urgency, and the longing for liberty—each line pulsates with the adrenaline of the jailbreak itself. The narrative unfolds dramatically, climaxing with the risk and ultimate cost of breaking free, resonating with listeners who crave autonomy and defiance against unjust circumstances.
Song Credits
- Songwriter: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott
- Release Year: 1976
- Label: Albert Productions