Louisville Burglar

歌詞

Raised up in Louisville, a city you all know well Raised up by honest parents, the truth to you I'll tell Raised up by honest parents, and raised most tenderly 'Til I became a burglar at the age of twenty-three My character was taken and I was sent to jail My people found it all in vain to get me out on bail The jury found me guilty, the clerk he wrote it down The judge he passed the sentence and sent me to Frankfort town They put me on an eastbound train one cold December day And as I passed the station, I could hear those people say Yonder goes the burglar, for some great crime I know For some great crime or other, to Frankfort town must go I saw my aged father a-pleading at the bar I saw my dear old mother dragging out her hair Dragging out those old grey locks, the tears were streaming down She says, "My son, what have you done to be sentenced to Frankfort town?" I have a girl in Louisville, a girl that I love well If ever I get my liberty, long life with her I'll dwell If ever I get my liberty, bad company I will shun Playing cards, and gambling, and also drinking rum To you who have your liberty, pray keep it while you can Don't walk about the streets at night or break the laws of man For if you do, you surely will, you'll find yourself like me Serving out your twenty-one years in the state penitentiary