I’m a poor man as honest as they come
I never was a thief until they caught me
And the judge said he saw my hands were red
No matter how I plead he found me guilty
There was no bail, off to Durham gaol
I went knowing nothing that could save me
Calamities they always come in threes
And that’s how many months it was he gave me

And no never in the livelong day
You won’t find me back in Durham gaol
And no never in the livelong day
You won’t find me back in Durham gaol

‘Twas a grey day when first I went astray
The devil take the man that came to tempt me
‘Cause in no time my life was one of crime
And now you see the trouble that it’s got me
There’s four bare walls at which to stare
My board and my lodgings are all paid for
And you can’t see the turning of the key
To see it turnin’ back is all you wait for

Sad to say, here I am to stay
With only iron bars around to lean on
I get a cold bath to dampen down me wrath
‘Though it’s barely just a month ago I had one
And God knows I need a suit of clothes
You’d think they could’ve found a one to fit me
My boots would be fine if they were both a nine
I’m walking like a fall of stones has hit me

And I’m sure that me mother’s heart would break
To see me in a state of such repentance
And I’m glad she’s not around to see
‘Cause I’ll be out before she finishes her sentence
The sun will shine, I’ll leave it all behind
Knowing I’ve done my time and done my duty
Out through the gates on the narrow and the straight
To the place where I have buried all the booty!

(lyrics reprinted by permission of J.Lowe/Lowe Life Music)