I received the letter you wrote, dear In which you said you'd wait for me I'm asking you to please not wait, dear It will only ruin your life I see Please don't wait for me, darling We could never be happy I know I'll always be an ex convict And branded wherever I go In three years my sentence is over Them gates will swing wide for me The warden will say I'm a free man But my name will never be free Please don't wait for me, darling We could never be happy I know I'll always be an ex convict And branded wherever I go May God bless you for your kindness You've stuck with me through thick and thin I love you too much to disgrace you In closing God bless you again Please don't wait for me, darling We could never be happy I know I'll always be an ex convict And branded wherever I go