Classic Poem

Come all you men and maidens
And harken unto me;
I will tell you my condition
And what it used to be.

I used to be a sinner
That wandered from the Lord;
I neither heard His counsel
Nor read His Holy Word.

My name is Rufus Mitchell,
The truth to you I'll tell;
I used to drink and gamble
And picked my banjo well.

I kept my evil habits
And served as Satan's slave;
Although my conscience told me,
I had a soul to save.

In spite of all my conscience
I'd tell what was not true;
I would sing a lively ditty
And pick my banjo too.

In wars between the parties,
The gray coats and the blue,
I volunteered for freedom;
I picked my banjo too.

In scouting I was skillful,
In battle I was brave;
Thought nothing about life or death,
But to liberate the slave.

I came into this country
To see what I could do;
I kept my evil habits
And picked my banjo too.

Then fever came upon me
And brought me near the grave,
And many Christians told me
I had a soul to save.

I went to hear the Gospel,
To see if His Word were true;
I laughed and mocked the preacher,
And picked my banjo too.

And when he called for sinners,
The tears streamed in my eyes;
I bowed before the altar,
I laid my banjo by.

I prayed and pled for mercy,
Christ filled my flowing cup;
I went home rejoicing
And burnt my banjo up.

Come all you wicked sinners
To meet me on that shore,
Where we will walk and worship
Where banjos are no more.