Boston Burglar, The

Play recording: Boston Burglar, The

I was bred and born 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
Til I became a sporting lad at the age of twenty-three.

My character was broken, and I was sent to jail;
My friends and parents did their best to get me out on bail
The jury found me guilty, and the clerk he wrote it down:
‘For the breaking of the Union Bank you’ll be sent to Charlestown.’

I can see my aged father a-standing at the bar
Likewise my poor old mother, a-tearing of her hair
A-tearing of her old grey locks, the tears came tumbling down.
‘Oh Son, oh Son, what have you done to be sent to Charlestown?’

I was placed on board an eastbound train on a cold December’s day;
And every station I passed by, I could hear the people say,
‘There goes the Boston Burglar, in irons he is bound,
For the breaking of the Union Bank he is sent to Charlestown.’

There is a girl in Boston, a girl I love well
If ever I gain my liberty, with her I mean to dwell.
If ever I gain my liberty, bad company I will shun,
Staying out late at night, likewise the drinking of rum.

So come all you young fellows, a warning take from me,
Never stay too late at night a-breaking the laws of man.
For if you do you’ll sure rue the day and find yourself like me:
Serving twenty-five years in the penitentiary!

…I was wrong there. I was wrong with the last verse there.

So while you have your liberty, keep it if you can.
Never stay too late at night breaking the laws of man.
For if you do, you’ll rue the day and find yourself like me:
Serving twenty-five years in the penitentiary!

Isn’t that better?