American Old Time Song Lyrics: 43 The Widows Only Son
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 43
THE WIDOW'S ONLY SON.
Copyright, 1893, by Frank Tousey.
Written by Albert Hall. Music by Felix McGlennon.
The scene is a court-house in Ireland,
Crowded from celling to floor
With gentles and commons, all come there to hear
The trial of young Barney Moore.
Now the charge 'garnet the stripling is treason,
And the jury him guilty declare;
The judge is about a long sentence to pass.
When a colleen's voice ring's thro' the air:
Chorus.
"Don't send the cratur to prison, sorr; let justice to mercy yield;
His father is dead, for our Queen fought and bled on a foreign battle-field.
Don't let him break his young heart in jail for a crime he has never done;
Remember, his mother's a widow, and he is a widow's only son."
The judge stays the sentence a moment,
Looks at the colleen so fair.
He says, "Girl, it brings a sharp pang to my heart,
Refusing to grant you your prayerÂ'Tis the laws of our country compel me.
And to jail I must send him to-day.
The shriek of the colleen rings thro' that old court,
As she murmurs while fainting away:- Chorus.
The piteous appeal of the colleen
Touches a man who stood there-
He cries out, "The pris'ner's not guilty, tho' I,
With others, against him did swear;
'Twas the plot of his rich, scheming rival-
See how he tries to slink from your view!
So, try me for perjury now, if you like,
But give justice where justice is due!"-Chorus.
