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