Cat. #1233 (MFH #329) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 26, 1971
VERSE 1
In th foothills of Ozarks
In northwest Arkansas
A convict came home from prison
To see his ailin' Pa
VERSE 2
Joe was tempted by th mountains
He came and played th game
Joe answered, the lonely mountains
And then he made his plan
VERSE 3
Joe's sweetheart would meet him
In their secret place
Francis kept Joe posted
On th posse that was on his trail
VERSE 4
Joe was 'livered by th mountain
An' th Coke County jail
VERSE 5
Mountain talk got started aggain
That Joe must be shot down
In their parts, they love all that knew well
Francis joined him in th crew
VERSE 7
Francis joined him with his rifle in her hand
With love so brave an' kind
To run an' hide in th forest
From th posse left behind
VERSE 7
One cold October night
They had a broken heart
When they were captured
The lawmen waiting in th dark
VERSE 8
To say goodbye in handcuffs
It had not been in their plan
Ending th course for pretty Francis
An' th convict, Bilderband