Cat. #0001 (MFH #496) - As sung by Loman Cansler, Parkville, Missouri on October 18, 1957
VERSE 1
As I went down th river, poor boy
To see the ships go by
My sweetheart stood on the deck of one
And she waved to me goodbye
CHORUS
Bow down your head and cry, poor boy
Bow down your head and cry
Stop thinkin' about the woman, ya love
Bow down your head and cry
VERSE 2
I followed her for months and months
She offered me her hand
We were just about to get married, when
She ran off with a gamblin' man
VERSE 3
He come at me with a big jack-knife
I went at him with lead
An' when the fight was over, poor boy
He laid beside me dead
Chorus
VERSE 4
They took me to th big jail-house
Th months and months rolled by
The jury found me guilty, poor boy
An' the jedge said, you must die
VERSE 5
And yet they call this jestice, poor boy
Then jestice, let it be
I only killed a man
Who was fixin' to kill me
Loman is from near Macks Creek, Missouri and Linn Creek, Missouri and learned this song from his Grandfather.