Lyr. Add: WILD BILL JONES 4

One day as I was a-rambling around,
I met up with Wild Bill Jones;
He was walking and talking with my own true love,
And I bid him to leave her alone.

He says, "Young man, I'm twenty-one,
Too old for me to be controlled."
And I drew my special from my side,
I destroyed that poor boy's soul.

He rolled, he struggled all over the ground,
And he gave one dying groan.
He looked right up at my darling's face,
Says, "Darling, you're left alone."

I'm bound for the walls of prison, little girls,
I'm bound for the walls of jail,
I'm bound for the walls of prison, little girls,
Oh, won't you go my bail?

When I am dead and in my grave,
With girls all a-crowding around,
Just push back the coffin lid,
Look down on a gambling man.

Perhaps could be combined with "Twenty-One Years" to make a more complete song.

From singing of Finley Adams, Kentucky, 1939. Lib. Congress AFS record 2797. Stanza 5 from singing of Mrs. W. L. Martin, Virginia, Lib. Congress AFS record 2746.

P. 722, Duncan Emrich, 1974, American Folk Poetry, An Anthology. Little, Brown.