May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister

One night it was dark and 'twas stormy

And along came a tramp in the rain

He was making his way to some station

To catch a long distance train.

May I sleep in your barn tonight mister

It is cold lying out on the ground

And the cold north wind it is blowing

And I have no place to lie down.

Oh I have no tobacco or matches

And I'm sure that I'll do you no harm

I will tell you my story kind mister

For it runs through my heart like a thorn.

It was three years ago last summer

I shall never forget that sad day

When a stranger came out from the city

And said that he wanted to stay.

One night as I came from my workshop

I was whistling and singing with joy

I expected a kind hearted welcome

From my sweet loving wife and my boy.

But what should I find I find but a letter

It was placed in the room on the stand

And the moment my eyes fell upon it

I picked it right up in my hand.

Now this note said my wife and the stranger

They had left and had taken my son

Oh I wonder if God up in Heaven

Only knows what this stranger has done