But who comes here with a look of fear
And a message of alarm?
A man found dead by the road 'tis said
With a banjo under his arm.
And a message of alarm?
A man found dead by the road 'tis said
With a banjo under his arm.
"Got drunk," they say, and lost his way
And stumbled into the ditch,
Who sold him the stuff, that was poison enough,
Was it murder or accident? Which?
And stumbled into the ditch,
Who sold him the stuff, that was poison enough,
Was it murder or accident? Which?
And does no one care, that he's lying there
With a look so fixed and wild?
O friends, do you know, that years ago
He was somebody's little child!
With a look so fixed and wild?
O friends, do you know, that years ago
He was somebody's little child!
Then lay him low, where we all shall go
Beggar and king, as well,
With his banjo pressed to his lifeless breast
As together they fought and fell.
Beggar and king, as well,
With his banjo pressed to his lifeless breast
As together they fought and fell.
From my window pane, I can hear the rain
On an old tin roof below,
And I lean to hear, for it sounds so queer,
Like the ghost of that old banjo.
On an old tin roof below,
And I lean to hear, for it sounds so queer,
Like the ghost of that old banjo.
And I wonder then, what he might have been
If some things were not, that are;
Ah! guilty saloon, 'neath the silent moon
There are crimes you shall answer for!
If some things were not, that are;
Ah! guilty saloon, 'neath the silent moon
There are crimes you shall answer for!
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