<P> The song was used as the theme for HBO 's The Wire . A different recording was used each season . Versions , in series order , were recorded by The Blind Boys of Alabama , Tom Waits , The Neville Brothers , DoMaJe , and Steve Earle . Season four 's version , performed by the Baltimore teenagers Ivan Ashford , Markel Steele , Cameron Brown , Tariq Al - Sabir and Avery Bargasse , was arranged and recorded specifically for the show . An extended version of the Blind Boys of Alabama recording was played over a montage in the series finale . </P>
who sings the wire season 5 theme song
Steve Earle