Cat. #0627 (MFH #220) - As sung by Paralee Weddington, Busch, Arkansas on March 7, 1968
VERSE 1
The Judge was there, th Jury too
An' people from afar
A fair young lad of tender youth
Was prisoner at th bar
Th great courtroom was crowded
With an eager an' anxious throng
An' many a heart was aching for
Th boy acused of wrong
VERSE 2
A maiden fair with golden hair
Swept swiftly thru th crowd
Th people gazed in wonder
But spoke not one word aloud
Then turning to th Judges stand
One moment she did pause
An' smiling thru her tears, she said,
Judge, let me plead th cause
VERSE 3
O, Judge, let your mind wonder back
To those long years gone by
An' see your sweetheart and yourself
Just like this lad and I
If you have children of your own
Have mercy I do pray
Remember Judge, you'll break my heart
If you send Jim away
VERSE 4
Then turning to th jury box
She made her simple plea,
This prisoner here is innocent
I know you'll set him free
Remember you were once a boy
Just like this fair young lad
If you convict him of this charge
You'll drive him to th bad
VERSE 5
Next Sunday is our wedding day
Th dreams of wonderous life
When at the altar he will make
Me his dear loving wife
Unless you aim to blight our life
Don't say that we must part
An' don't forget your darling wife
Was once your dear sweetheart
VERSE 6
Th Judge rose softly from his seat
Th court was still as death
Th tears were streaming down his cheeks
He spoke in faltering breath,
I have a little girl at home
With just such baby eyes
An' she's got mercy scattered here
Will flourish in th skies
VERSE 7
Th jury did not leave th room
For they had quiclkly agreed
Th foreman briefly signed th note
And gave th clerk to read
Not guilty were the only words
Th maiden heard them say
Her lover clasped her in his arms
Love always finds its way