Behind Those Stone Walls

I was in St Louis city where I first saw the light

Brought up by honest parents on a pathway of right

I was left an orphan at the age of ten years

On mother's grave I she'd many tears

I'd scarcely reached manhood when I left my old home

With some other fellows to the west we did roam

Seeking employment though scarcely could find

We seemed so poor and the people unkind

Was in New York City where we first met our fate

We were arrested while roaming the streets

The charges were burglars the theft it was called

But they said it would place us behind the stone walls

We were marched next morning to the courthouse for trial

My pal was downhearted so I gave him a smile

We pleaded for mercy but was shown none at all

They gave us twenty years behind the stone walls

We were handcuffed next morning and marched to the pen

We arrived there at midnight with a few other men

The doors were thrown open we marched in the halls

Just learn to be a convict behind the stone walls

While lying that night on a pallet of straw

I swore I would never again break the law

There's none but your mother to bear your downfall

When you are a convict behind the stone walls

Come all you young fellows and listen to me

When you lose life's pleasures you've lost liberty

I've tasted life's pleasures it's bitter than gall

It'll lead to a cell behind the stone wall