The Boston Burglar – lyrics and chords

The Boston Burglar is sometimes know as Boston City. The lyrics are about a man being sent to jail and looking back on his life with regret. He also warns others not top take the same path in life that he did, and dreams about his life once he is released from prison.

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The chords to Boston City are presented here in the key of E major. Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.

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E 
I was born in  
A 
Boston 
 
 
E 
city 
 
 
B7 
boys, a  
E 
place you all know well
 
Brought  
A 
up by  
B7 
honest 
 
 
E 
parents, the truth to  
A 
you I’ll  
B7 
tell
 
Brought  
E 
up by  
A 
honest 
 
 
E 
par
B7 
ents, and  
E 
raised most tenderly,
 
Till  
A 
I 
 
bec
B7 
ame a  
E 
sporting blade at the  
A 
age of  
B7 
twenty 
 
 
E 
three.

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My character it was taken and I was sent to jail
My parents thought to bail me out, but they found it all in vain;
The jury found me guilty, and the clerk he wrote it down
The judge he passed my sentence and I was sent to Charlestown.

I see my aged father and he standing by the Bar
Likewise my aged mother and she tearing off her hair
The tearing of her old grey locks and the tears came mingled down
Saying ‘John my son, what have you done, that you’re bound for Charlestown.’

There’s a girl in Boston City, boys, a place you all know well
And if e’er I get my liberty, It’s with her i will dwell
If e’er I get my liberty, bad company I will shun
The robbing of the Munster bank, and the drinking of the rum.

You lads that are at liberty, should keep it while you can
Don’t roam the street by night or day, or break the laws of man
For if do you’re sure to rue and become a lad like me
A-serving up your twenty-one years, in the Royal Artillery.

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Lyrics and Chords

Boston City lyrics and chords print version

E 
I was born in  
A 
Boston 
 
 
E 
city 
 
 
B7 
boys, a  
E 
place you all know well
 
Brought  
A 
up by  
B7 
honest 
 
 
E 
parents, the truth to  
A 
you I’ll  
B7 
tell
 
Brought  
E 
up by  
A 
honest 
 
 
E 
par
B7 
ents, and  
E 
raised most tenderly,
 
Till  
A 
I 
 
bec
B7 
ame a  
E 
sporting blade at the  
A 
age of  
B7 
twenty 
 
 
E 
three.

My character it was taken and I was sent to jail
My parents thought to bail me out, but they found it all in vain;
The jury found me guilty, and the clerk he wrote it down
The judge he passed my sentence and I was sent to Charlestown.

I see my aged father and he standing by the Bar
Likewise my aged mother and she tearing off her hair
The tearing of her old grey locks and the tears came mingled down
Saying ‘John my son, what have you done, that you’re bound for Charlestown.’

There’s a girl in Boston City, boys, a place you all know well
And if e’er I get my liberty, It’s with her i will dwell
If e’er I get my liberty, bad company I will shun
The robbing of the Munster bank, and the drinking of the rum.

You lads that are at liberty, should keep it while you can
Don’t roam the street by night or day, or break the laws of man
For if do you’re sure to rue and become a lad like me
A-serving up your twenty-one years, in the Royal Artillery.

Videos
Lyrics and Chords