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'd 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 found my baby here in jail
Oh, warden, at last I 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
When 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 swing 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

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): KARL DAVIS