The first time I saw Carrie Brown. She was so young and fair. A voice like spring rain fallin' down and sunlight in her hair. I'd never seen her face before so I asked all around. Her daddy owns a grocery store and she lives in Bristol town. Carrie darlin' Carrie Carrie Brown I cry. If I can't marry Carrie Brown believe I'd rather die. I laid my last ten dollars down. Though I didn't need a thing. Just to touch sweet Carrie Brown. When she handed me my change. I hung around till closin' time I scarce believed my eyes. My darlin' walkin' arm in arm. With a boy named Billy Wise. I walked around in Bristol town a bitter broken man. A heart that pined for Carrie Brown and a pistol in my hand. We met again on State Street poor Billy Wise and me. I shot him in Virginia and he died in Tennessee. Now I'm down in the Bristol jail and all I do is cry. Cause the jury found me guilty and the judge says I must die. I'm just a poor young mountain boy. Ain't never been to town. And I've come to ruination for the love of Carrie Brown