I was born and raised in Boston
A place you all know well
Brought up by honest parents
The truth to you l'll tell
Brought up by honest parents
And raised most tenderly
'Til I became a sporting blade
At the age of twentythree

My character was taken
And I was sent to jail
My friends and parents tried in vain
For to get me out on bail
But the jury found me guilty
And the judge he wrote it down
For the breaking of the Union Bank
You are sent to Charlestown

I set my toot on an East bound train
One cold December day
In every station we passed through
I could hear the people say
There goes the Boston Burglar
In cold chains he is bound
For the breaking ot the Union Bank
He is sent to Charlestown

Now you who have your liberty
Pray keep it if you can
And don't go midnight rambling
Breaking laws of God and man
For if you do you'll surely rue
And end up just like me
Serving out twenty years in a penitentiary

I was born and raised in Boston
A place you all know well
Brought up by honest parents
The truth to you I'll tell
Brought up by honest parents
And raised most tenderly
'Til I became a sporting blade
At the age of twentythree