I went down to Taneytown

I went down to Taneytown

To see what I could see

My mama told me never go

But I'm almost 22 years old

Sometimes I fear this holler swollow me

She ran off to Gettysburg

Went off with that new beau of hers

I snuck off after dark

Long way down the county road

Stars were bright

The moon was low

Down to where the black top highway starts



Chorus:

I went down to Taneytown

I went down to Taneytown

I went down to see what I could see



I could see everybody stared at me

You'd think that they ain't never seen

A colored boy before

They chunked at me at me

Called me names

They'd have whipped me sure but the sheriff came

I slipped off through the dry goods store

I ran down Division Street

Some of them boys followed me

Down to the railroad track

Four of them and I cain't fight

But I had my old Randall knife

I cut that boy and I never did look back



Chorus



Cross the fields and woods I run

Like a bullet from a rabbit gun

Back home to my bed

Ma came in from Gettysburg

Her and that new beau of hers

";Boy you look like hell"; was all she said



Month went by without a word

Somebody down the holler heard

About that boy they hung

He begged those men to spare his life

But I dropped my bloody Randall knife

He picked it up so they thought he was the one



I went down to Taneytown

I went down to Taneytown

I ain't goin' back there anymore