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]