DON'T SEND MY BOY TO PRISON

Performed By Billy Bennett   written by Con Conrad (Conrad Hovey)

Chorus: Don't send my boy to prison
It's the first crime wot he's done
'Six months.' replied his Lordship
'Oh Gawd 'elp my h'erring son.'

The snow was falling 'orrid, the 'earth and 'ome was cold
To save his starving family, the sticks 'ad all bin sold
And when his poor old mother, she was a-stricken ill
He yielded to temptation, and, he rifled of the till.

Chorus:Chorus: Don't send my boy to prison
It's the first crime wot he's done
'Six months.' replied his Lordship
'Oh Gawd 'elp my h'erring son.'

It was a simple h'action, to sneak another's wealth
But then 'e only done it, to save his family's 'ealth
Oh shed the tear of pity or quell an angry word
'E never knowed no better, Nor, voice of conscience served.

Chorus: Don't send my boy to prison
It's the first crime wot he's done
'Six months.' replied his Lordship
'Oh Gawd 'elp my h'erring son.'

They shoved the irons across 'im, a-coming through the door,
Says he, 'I only done it because I was so poor'
The h'officer all a-trembling, he wipes away a tear
Says he, 'I knows my duty, And, no more I mustn't hear.' :

Chorus: Don't send my boy to prison
It's the first crime wot he's done
'Six months.' replied his Lordship
'Oh Gawd 'elp my h'erring son.'

The judge looks on in h'anger, and the prisoner hung his head
And then his poor old mother wot was with him upped and said,
'Don't send my boy to prison, It's the first crime wot he's done.'
'Six months.' replied his Lordship,
'Oh, Gawd 'elp my h'erring son.'

Chorus: Don't send my boy to prison
It's the first crime wot he's done
'Six months.' replied his Lordship
'Oh Gawd 'elp my h'erring son.'
They takes 'im from the dock then, and carts 'im from the court
Not caring how his mother her poor home can now support
Thank God there's them in Marylebone who'll comfort her poor heart
And see her through her troubles, till they needs no more to part.