Cat. #0516 (MFH #537) - As sung by Harrison Burnett, Fayetteville, Arkansas on July 5, 1960
VERSE 1
In th beautiful hills, in midst of Rome County
That's where I'd roamed for many a long year
That's where my heart's been, yes tending most ever
That's wher th first step of misfortune I made
VERSE 2
At thirty years old, I courted an' married
Amanda Gilberth was then called my wife
Her brother he stabbed me, for some unknown reason
Just three months later I'd taken Tom's life
VERSE 3
For twenty long years through this old world I rambled
I went to old England, to France an' to Spain
I thought of my home, way back in Rome County
So, I boarded a steamer, came back home again
VERSE 4
I was captured an' tried in th village of Kingston
Not a man in that county would speak a kind word
Th jury came in with a verdict next morning
It's lifetime in prison, was all that I heard
VERSE 5
Th train it pulled out, poor Mother stood weeping
Sister, she set, all alone with a sigh
Th last words I heard was, Willie, God bless you
Was, Willie, God bless you, God bless you, goodbye
VERSE 6
In th scorching hot sand of th foundry, I'm working
Yes, working an' toiling my life away
They'll measure my grave, on th banks of ole Cumberland
As soon as I finish th rest of my days
VERSE 7
No matter what happened to me, in Rome County
No matter how long, my sentence may be
I love my ole home, 'way back in Rome County
Because it is 'way up in East Tennessee
VERSE 8
Napoleon was great an' Brier was much greater
There's better an' worse all over, you see
Boys, when you write home, from your prison in Nashville
Put one of my songs in your letters for me