American Old Time Song Lyrics: 14 Eight Years In Cherry Hill
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 14
EIGHT YEARS IN CHERRY HILL.
Copyright, 1875, by J. H. Johnson.
Come, citizens of Philadelphia.
And listen unto me,
A letter is received from a prisoner
Stating that he was ill;
The judge and the jury
The laws they do fulfill.
By sending poor innocent prisoners
"To die in Cherry Hill.
'Tis about one Johnny McDermott
That I am going to sing;
He being intoxicated one morning in the Spring,
With an axe he made his way to the house of John McFilles.
He found him lying on the bed,
And swore his blood to spill; _
Not knowing he had to lav for it
Fight years in Cherry Hill.
The cry of murder soon was heard,
Policemen they did pour;
They clubbed him with their billies
And laid him on the floor.
They sent him down to prison,
And there he laid until
His sentence was hard labor
Eight years in Cherry Hill.
Now you heard his sentence,
And don't you think it hard?
On that great day of judgment
You will stand before your God.
The judge and the jury-
It will be a bitter pill-
They will find they will visit a harder place
Than the walls of Cherry Hill.
Come all kind-hearted parents,
And a warning take by me;
'Tis keep your children off the streets
And from bad company.
For if they don't they'll surely ruin,
And turn against your will;
For it was dancing schools and night walking
Brought me to Cherry Hill.