"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

and 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 darlin' baby to your side"

2 iron gates swang wide apart

She held her darlin' 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"

Writer : KARL DAVIS, HARTY TAYLOR
Copyright : Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group