Twenty[D] years ago last[A] Christmas,came a temper to my[D] wife,
Stole[D] the only flower I[A] cherished,[E]and I vowed I'd have his[A] life,
[Chorus]
Sure I[D] dreamed as the hammer strikes the[Em] anvil,
And I[A] dream as the sparks light on the[D] floor,
Of[D] my true eyed turtle[A] dove,she's the[Em] only[A] girl I[D] love,
As she[Em] stood outside that[A] good old smithy[D] door
[2]
In the street one day I met him,in my eyes that villain grinned,
Then the course of Cain came o'er me,'twas on that very day I sinned.
[3]
Twelve months passed then came my trial,in the court I saw my wife,
And I heard her beg for mercy,when they sentenced me to life.
[4]
For twelve long years I read her letters,the only comfory I can tell,
When I heard that she was dying,'twas then my lonely spirits fell.
[5]
Late one night I dodged the warder,over the prison wall I sprang,
Then go home foot sore and weary,at the breaking of the dawn.
[6]
She was glad,so glad to see me,in my arms that night she died,
Then the warder rushed the doorway,and they found me there inside.
[7]
When they saw her lifeless body,and I kneeling on the floor,
They said Jack my lad we trust you,come back when you have laid her low.
[3]
