Boston Burglar

I was born and reared in Boston

A place you all know well

Brought up by honest parents

The truth to you I'll tell

Brought up by honest parents

And reared most tenderly

Till I became a sporting lad

At the age of twenty-three

My character was taken

And I was sent to jail

My friends they came, they tried in vain

To get me out on bail

The jury found me guilty

The clerk he wrote it down

For the breaking of the union bank

I was sent to Charlestown

They put me on an eastbound train

One cold December day

And every station we passed through

I could hear the people say

"There goes the Boston burglar

In cold chains he is bound

For one crime or another

He is bound for Charlestown"

All you that have your freedom

Take warning if you can

And don't go 'round the streets at night

Breaking laws of God or man

For if you do, you'll surely rue

And find yourself like me

Serving up to twenty years

In the penitentiary

Serving up to twenty years

In the penitentiary