I'm not in your town to stay
Said the lady old and gray
To the warden of the penitentiary
I'm not in your time to stay,
and I'll soon be on my way
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
Oh, warden,
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
I tried to raise my baby right I have
prayed both day and night
That he wouldn't follow
the footsteps of his dad
I have searched both far and wide
And I feared that he had died
But at last I found my baby here in jail
Oh, warden, at last I found my baby here
in jail
It was just five years today
When his daddy passed away,
he was found beneath the snow so cold an d white.
Was then I vowed to take his ring and his gold watch and chain,
When the county laid
his daddy in the grave.
Yes,
Warden, the
Count, he laid his daddy in the grave
I will pawn you his watch,
I will pawn you his chain
I will pawn you my diamond wedding ring
will wash all your clothes,
I will wash all your floors
If that will get my baby out of jail
Yes, warden,
if that will get my baby out of jail
Then I heard the warden say to the lady,
old and grey
I'll go bring your darling
baby to your side
Two iron gates swing wide apart
She held her darling to her heart
She kissed a baby boy and then she died
But smiling, she kissed a baby boy and then
she died
I'm not in your town to stay,
said a lady old and gray
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
Yes, warden,
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
Oh, warden, I'm just here
to get my baby out of jail