"I'm not in your town to stay,"“
Said a lady old and gray
To the warden of the penitentiary
"I'm not in your town to stay“
And I'll soon be on my way
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
Yes warden,
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail"

"I've tried to raise my baby right“
I have prayed both day and night
That he never follow footsteps of his dad
I have searched both far and wide
I have feared that he had died
And at last I found my baby here in jail
Yes warden,
But it's good to found my baby here in jail"

"I will pawn you my watch“
I will pawn you my chain
I will pawn you my diamond ring
I will wash all your clothes
I will scrub all your floors
If that will get my baby out of jail
Yes warden,
You know I want my darling out of jail"

Then we heard the warden say
To the lady old and gray:
"I'll bring your baby boy to your side"“
Two iron gates swung wide apart
She held her darling to her heart
She kissed her baby boy and then she died
But smiling,
In the arms of her dear boy there she died
In the arms of her dear boy there she died