The lynch mob gathered in the square
Across from the jail
Young Billy watched them from his cell
And felt his courage fail
Bill swore he wasn't guilty
But the evidence was plain
Tomorrow he would go on trial
For killing Mary Jane
They shouted beat the prisoner hardy
We're gonna have a lynching party
Gonna hang him high
Watch him die
For killing Mary Jane
The mob is closer to the jail
Excitement all around
The deputies kept moving back
Afraid to hold their ground
Then the young girl cried you cowards you
But the Lynch mob searched ahead
Dragged young Billy from that jail
And soon the kid was dead
They shouted beat the prisoner hardy
We're gonna have a lynching party
Gonna hang him high
Watch him die
For killing Mary Jane
The weeks went by and no one spoke
About it anymore
Or seemed to see the wreath Bill's mother
Hung upon her door
Then one night they dragged a ragged
Hobo from a train
And he confessed he was the one
Who killed young Mary Jane
They shouted beat the prisoner hardy
We're gonna have a lynching party
Gonna hang him high
Watch him die
For killing Mary Jane
Gonna hang him high
Watch him die
For killing Mary Jane
Gonna hang him high
Watch him die
For killing Mary Jane