Don't Tell Mother That Her Boy Went Wrong - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
DON'T TELL MOTHER THAT HER BOY WENT WRONG. Copyright, 1895, by Widmer-Stigler Music Pub. Co. Words and Music by Charles Harvey. 
There's a cozy little cottage, nestled down among the hills, In a village that is very far from here; Where the sun is ever shining, and the song-bird ever trills, And it shelters my old mother, fond and dear. Still I see her in the door-way, as she stood that one sad day, When I left my boyhood's home, my wings to try. Though her eyes were dimm'd with weeping, as she sent me on my way, With a smile upon her lips, she said, "Good-bye." 
Chorus. "Good-bye, good-bye," Still in mem'ry those sad words are borne along; I no longer have a home, for an outcast now I roamDon't tell my mother that her boy went wrong. 
In the early days I struggled, that a fortune I might make, For I hoped my darling mother thus to please, But the so-called friends around me said, "Why all this trouble take? We will teach you to make money with more ease." Then soon I learned to gamble and to play the races, too; And one false step to another swiftly led. I neglected my poor mother, and the friends I thought so true One by one dropped from me when my cash had fled.- Chorus. 
Then I sought to drown my sorrows in the cup that's said to cheer, But I've fallen lower still, as you may see; And the only hope that's left me is, that she I hold most dear Shall not know what wretched fate has come to me. I shall seek that lowly cottage, there to find one loyal heart To greet me with a welcome full of joy; And then from her side, while living, I shall never, never part, If my mother will forgive her erring boy.- Chorus.