Fiddlin' John Carson — The Boston Burglar

I's borned and raised in Boston A city you all knew well Brought up by honest parents- The truth to you I'll tell- Brought up by honest parents Both kind and tenderly Till I became a sporting man At the age of twenty-three Now my character was taken And I was placed in jail; My friends all said there is no need To take me out on bail There stood my aged father A-pleading at the bar Likewise my aged mother A-tearing out her hair- A-tearing out those old grey locks The tears came trinkling down "Oh, son, dear son, what have you done? You're off for Cairo town!" I was placed on board of an eastbound train One cold December day Every station we passed through I heard those people say "There goes a Boston Burglar; In strong irons he'll be bound; For some great crime that he has done He's off for Cairo town." The jury found me guilty The clerk, he wrote it down The judge he passed a sentence on me: I'm off for Cairo town