Behind Those Stone Walls 歌词

I was in St Louis city where I first saw the light Brought up by honest parents on a pathway of right I was left an orphan at the age of ten years On mother's grave I she'd many tears I'd scarcely reached manhood when I left my old home With some other fellows to the west we did roam Seeking employment though scarcely could find We seemed so poor and the people unkind Was in New York City where we first met our fate We were arrested while roaming the streets The charges were burglars the theft it was called But they said it would place us behind the stone walls We were marched next morning to the courthouse for trial My pal was downhearted so I gave him a smile We pleaded for mercy but was shown none at all They gave us twenty years behind the stone walls 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 halls Just learn to be a convict behind the stone walls While lying that 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 walls Come all you young fellows and listen to me When you lose life's pleasures you've lost liberty I've tasted life's pleasures it's bitter than gall It'll lead to a cell behind the stone wall