Cat. #0292 (MFH #220) - As sung by Mrs. Pearl Brewer, Pocahontas, Arkansas on November 12, 1958
VERSE 1
O, th great courthouse was crowded
On one bright shiny Monday morn
And th many a heart was aching there
For a boy they accused of wrong
Th Judge was there and th Jury too
And people from a far
A fair young lad of tender youth
Was prisoner at th bar
VERSE 2
A maiden fair with golden hair
Swept swiftly thru th crowd
Th people all gazed and wondered at her
But spoke not a word aloud
Then stepping to th jury stand
One moment did she pause
Then smiling thru her tears, she said,
Judge, let me plead his cause
VERSE 3
Now Judge, your mind must wander back
To th earlier days gone by
And see yourself and your sweetheart
Just like this boy and I
Remember, Judge, you once was a boy
Just like this fair young lad
And if you convict him of this charge
You'll drive him to th bad
VERSE 4
Next Sunday was our wedding day
We dream of a wonderous life
And at the alter, he will make
Me, his own little darling wife
If you have children of your own
Have mercy, I do pray
For, remember Judge, you'll break my heart
If you send, Cecil away
VERSE 5
Unless you wish to blight our life
Don't say that we must part
For, remember Judge, your darling wife
Was once your own sweetheart
VERSE 6
Then stepping to th jury stand
She made her simple plea
Says, th prisoner is a innocent lad
I know you will set him free
VERSE 7
Th Judge rose softly to his feet
Th court was still, as death
Th tears came trinkling down his cheeks
And he spoke in a faltering breath
Says, I have a little girl, at home
With just such babyish eyes
She has a sweetheart, just like yours
For her, I know he would die
VERSE 8
The Jury did not leave th box
For they had quickly agreed
They briefly formed and signed a verdict
And gave it to th Judge to read
Not guilty, was th Judge's reply,
Th maiden heard him say
She clasp-ed her lover in her arms
Says, love always has its way