Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty

Subject: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: Big Tim
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 01:34 PM

I can just remember a fragment of a song my father used to sing in Ireland in the 50s,

"The jury found him guilty, the clerk he wrote it down, and for one crime or another he was sent to Charlotte(?) town".

This now looks to me like a transportation song. Does anybody have the words (and the story behind them if possible). Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 02:18 PM

The Boston Burglar. Not a transportation song. A cautionary tale about loose-living and its consequences.

You who have your freedom
Pray keep it if you can
And don't go 'round the streets at night
To break the laws of man.
For if you do
You'll surely rue
Behind these bars like me
I am serving the sum
Of twent one years
In the penitentiary.

Note: that's how my Dad taught it to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 02:25 PM

I can't find it in the DT but I am sure it is there. I will post all the lyrics tonight if no one points the way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: Big Tim
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 03:38 PM

Thanks SINSULL, very much. "Boston" sems to be the key word as I've found the song in two of my songbooks as "Boston City". 1. O'Lochlainn,Irish Street Ballads vol 1, and 2. Soodlum ballad book. Disappointed it wasn't a transportation song... If you can't find the words, come back, and I'll post them, tomorrow. Goodnight!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 04:13 PM

Thanks Tim but Dad's version is in my head forever. As a child I loved this song. Every year we had a two-part music test in grammar school. The first part was singing a song of our own choice in front of the class; the second was a written exam. I always chose "The Boston Burglar" until third grade when some B***H of a nun told me to "take the first train out of Boston" or she would fail me. I hummed it religiously (pun intended) daily after that.
Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: MMario
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 04:15 PM

they are in the DT under "Boston City"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fragment: the jury found him guilty
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 04:16 PM

There's a version the New Lost City Ramblers did (I think) called The Louisville Burglar, just about the same song except for the locality.

Peter.