Hamish Imlach Follow

The Ballad of Timothy Evans

Tim Evans was a prisoner fast in his prison cell
Those that read about his crimes damned his soul to hell
Saying go down, you murderer go down

For the murder of his own true wife, the killing of his own child
The jury found him guilty, the hanging judge he smiled
Saying go down, you murderer go down

Now Evans pleaded innocent, swore by him on high
He never killed his own true wife, caused his child to die
Saying go down, you murderer go down

But they took him out at nine o’clock to his final flowery death
And day and night two screws were there, they never left his cell
Saying go down, you murderer go down

Tim Evans walked in the prison yard, the screws they walked behind
He could see the sky above the wall, but he knew no peace of mind
Saying go down, you murderer go down

The governor came in one day, a chaplain by his side
Said your appeal has been turned down, prepare yourself to die
Saying go down, you murderer go down

They came for him at eight o’clock, the chaplain read a prayer
And then they took him to the place where the hangman did prepare
Saying go down, you murderer go down

They placed the noose around his neck, the buckle behind his ear
The prison bell was tolling, Tim Evans could not hear
Saying go down, you murderer go down

A thousand lads were cursing and banging on their door
Tim Evans could not hear them, he was dead for evermore
Saying go down, you murderer go down

They sent Tim Evans to the drop for a crime he did not do
It was Christy was the murderer, and the judge and the jury too
Saying go down, you murderers go down
Go down, you murderers go down