Lyrics and notes copied from http://www.veteran.co.uk/vt153cd.htm

THE PRISONER LAD

A lad stood in a police court, not very far from here.
The boy stood in the prison dock, his mother standing near.
The lad was quite a youngster who'd been lately led astray,
And from his mother's cash box he had stolen some coins away.

"Don't send my boy to prison, sir, for this will drive me mad.
Remember I'm a widow, and that prisoner is my lad."

The prosecuting lawyer acting for the crown,
Turning to his lordship, "Ask that woman to sit down."
But the widow's eyes flashed fire and her cheeks turned deathly pale.
She said, "I'm here to try to save my orphan from the jail."

"Don't send my boy to prison sir, for this will drive me mad.
Remember I'm a widow, and that prisoner is my lad.
And gentlemen please remember, it's the first crime that he's had."

The judge turned to the prisoner and said, "Mercy will be shown.
I understand your mother. I have children of my own.
So go home to your mother and no more make her sad,
And remember there is no one like a mother for her lad."

[As sung by Viv Legg on his album "Romany Roots," Veteran CD VT153CD.

["This Victorian sentimental ballad seems to be another that has remained in Viv's family repertoire yet has all but disappeared elsewhere. What has survived, though, is a parody performed by the great Music Hall artiste Billy Bennett (1887-1942), under the title DON'T SEND MY BOY TO PRISON. This monologue continues with 'It's the first crime what he done'. One of Bennett's performances of this piece can be heard on TSCD780 'Almost a Gentleman'."]