As I went down to the river poor boy to watch the ships go by
My sweetheart's stood on the deck of one she waved to me goodbye

Bow down your head and cry (poor boy) bow down your head and cry
Stop thinking of that woman you love bow down your head and cry

I followed her from months and months she offered me her hand
We were just about to get married when she ran off with a gambling man
He come at me with a big jack knife I went and hit him with lead
And when that fight was over poor boy he laid beside me dead

Bow down your head and cry...
[ banjo ]
They took me to that big jailhouse the months and months rolled by
The jury found me guilty poor boy and the judge said yoou're gonna die
And yet they call this justice poor boy then justice let it be
I only killed a man who's just a fixin' to kill me

Bow down your head and cry...