As I met down to the river, poor boy, to watch the ships roll by
My sweetheart stood on the deck of one, and she waved to me good bye
Hang down your head and cry, poor boy
Hang down your head and cry
Stop thinking about your false-hearted love
Hang your head and cry
I followed for months and months, she offered me her hand
We were just about to get married when she ran off with a gamblin' man
* Refrain
He came at me with a big jacknife, I came at him with lead
And when it was all over, poor boy, he lay down beside me dead
* Refrain
They took me to the big jail-house, and months months rolled by
they jury said he's guilty, poor boy, and the judge said I must die
* Refrain
And yet they call it justice, poor boy, them justice let it be
I only killed a man who was just a-fixin' to kill me
* Refrain