I'm not in your town to stay
Said a lady old and gray
To the warden of the penitentiary
I'm not in your town to stay
And I'll soon be on my way
I'm just here to get
My baby out of jail
Oh, warden, I'm just here
To get my baby out of jail
I tried to raise my baby right
I have prayed both day and night
That he wouldn't follow
The footsteps of his dad
I have searched both far and wide
And I feared that he had died
But at last I've found
My baby here in jail
Oh, warden, at last
I've found my baby here in jail
It was just five years today
When his daddy passed away
He was found beneath
The snow, so cold and white
Twas then I vowed to take his ring
And his gold watch and his chain
Then the county laid his daddy in the grave
Yes, warden, the county laid
His daddy in the grave
I will pawn you his watch
I will pawn you his chain
I will pawn you my
Diamond wedding ring
I will wash all your clothes
I will scrub all your floors
If that will get my baby out of jail
Yes, warden, if that will
Get my baby out of jail
Then I heard the warden say
To the lady old and gray
I'll go bring your
Darling baby to your side
Two iron gates swang wide apart
She held her darling to her heart
She kissed her baby boy and then she died
But smiling, she kissed her baby boy
And then she died
I'm not in your town to stay
Said a lady old and gray
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
Yes, warden, I'm just here
To get my baby out of jail