Charlie Boy

And I found her there beneath that willow tree And I said, "Oh my darling, won't you come with me?" And she said, "No, Charlie boy, I can't go with you I'm pledged to another by mother Though our love ain't true" He said, "What if I took your hand And I led you 'cross the sea? Then would you forget 'bout him? Would you marry me?" And she said, "No, Charlie boy, that just cannot be If you flee across the ocean blue You'll shame my family" He said, "What if I took a knife And I put it in his chest? Then would you believe me darlin' That I love you best?" And she said, "No, Charlie boy, that jus' wouldn't do If you put a knife in his chest The law'll be after you" So I see her standing up there in a white lace dress And the priest cries out, "Does anyone protest?" And they said, "No, Charlie boy, sit back in your pew She's marrying another man There's nothing you can do" And I guess I couldn't take it And I just saw red And I pulled my pistol off my hip And I shot him in the head And they said, "No, Charlie boy What the hell'd you do? You killed him on his wedding night The hangman'll have you soon" So I'm rotting here in this city cell And by tomorrow morning I'll be wasting in hell And they said, "Oh, Charlie boy Look how far you've fell She never even loved you, and now she never will"