john wilkes booth came to washington an actor great was he he played at ford s theater and lincoln went to see it was early in april not many weeks ago the people of this fair city all gathered at the show the war it is all over the people happy now and abraham lincoln arose arose to make his bow the people cheer him wildly arising to their feet and lincoln waving of his hand he calmly takes his seat and while he sees the play go on his thoughts are running deep his darling wife close by his side has fallen fast asleep from the box there hangs a flag it s not the stars and bars the flag that holds within its folds bright gleaming stripes and stars john wilkes booth he moves down the aisle he had measured once before he passes lincoln s bodyguard a nodding at the door he holds a dagger in his right hand a pistol in his left he shoots poor lincoln in the temple and he sends his soul to rest the wife awakes from slumber and screams in her rage booth jumps over the railing and lands him on the stage he ll rue the day he ll rue the hour as god him life shall give when booth stood in that center stage crying tyrants shall not live the people all excited then cried everyone a hand cried all the people near for god s sake save that man then booth ran back with boot and spurs across the backstage floor he mounts that trusty claybank mare all saddled at the door john wilkes booth in his last play all dressed in broadcloth deep he gallops down the alleyway i hear those horses feet poor lincoln then was heard to say and all has gone to rest of all the actors in this town i loved booth the best 
['appalachian folk', 'bluegrass', 'modern old-time', 'old-time', 'progressive bluegrass', 'string band', 'traditional folk']