Ballad of Gin Mary

Carried me to de court,
Judge was settin’ there.
Looked all around me,
Didn’t have a friend nowhere.

Judge Pierce he says, Mary.
Old Judge says, Mary Jane,
Ever time I mounts this bench
I sees yo’ face again.

O, Lawd! O, Lawd!
O, Lawd . . . Lawdee!
Seems like bad licker,
Judge, won’t let me be.

Old Judge says you’s a drunkard.
Fact is you worries me.
Gwine give you eighteen months
So licker’ll let you be.

Eighteen months in jail!
O, eighteen months locked in!
Won’t be so bad in jail
But I’ll miss ma gin.

O, please sir, Judge, have mercy!
Have mercy, please, on me!
Old hard-faced Judge says eighteen months
Till licker’ll let you be.