Was in St. Louis City where I first saw the light Brought up by honest parents in the pathway of right I was left an orphan at the age of ten years On mother's grave I've shed many tears
I'd scarcely reached manhood when I left my old home With some other fellows through the west we did roam Seeking employment though scarcely could find We seemed so poor, and the people unkind
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Was in New York City where we first met our fate We were arrested while roaming the street The charges were burglary, the theft it was small But they said it would place us behind the stone wall
We were marched next morning to the courthouse for trial My pal was downhearted, though I gave him a smile We pleaded for mercy but was shown none at all They gave us twenty years behind the stone wall
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We were handcuffed next morning and marched to the pen We arrived there at midnight with a few other men The doors were thrown open, we marched in the hall We'd learn to be a convict behind the stone wall
While lying at night on a pallet of straw I swore I would never again break the law There's none but your mother to bear your downfall When you are a convict behind the stone wall
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Come all you young fellows and listen to me When you lose at life's pleasure you've lost liberty I've tasted life's pleasure, it's bitterer than gall It'll lead to a cell behind the stone wall