Standard (EADGBE)
When I was just a boy, I knew this little girl a pretty little thing names Josephine
Tiny little lust in our tiny little world I was willing she was pretty long and lean
We first made love in the summer, her daddy found out that fall
Her beat her with his fists upon the lips that I just kissed
And shipped her off down to the Boston States, oh, he shipped her off down to the Boston States
When I turned 17 I joined the King's Marine, took my place among the world of men
Two years since I'd seen, my pretty Josephine, I wondered if I'd see her face again
Then the news came of rebellion down New England way
We sailed in the spring in the Name of the King
And shipped me off down to the Boston States, oh, they shipped her off down to the Boston States
We marched to Concorde Town to unleash hell and fury to teach the rebel scum the art of war
They beat us back they shot me down they dragged my ass on into town with a dead
man than I'd run through before
In a solitary act of retribution they laid me at his widows feet
I raised my eyes to see my pretty Josephine
A twist of fate down in the Boston States, oh, a twist of fate down in the Boston States
The well inside my heart is dry and reminiscing fool am I, holdin' on to memories of old
A potent brew of love and guilt plan a seed and love first spilt a strappin man
the surely was my own
She bid me well and begged I'd take the boy back home to Port Shoreham with me
She gave to me the sweetest kiss and then she slit her wrists
and died for nothing down in the Boston States, died for nothing down in the Boston States.
Josephine, if you could see our boy now you be so proud you'd be happy
I did my best to raise him on my own in your memory
He asks about u from time to time I never know what to say
So on this lonesome night I told him that you died
A hero down in the Boston states oh a hero down in the Boston states.