My parents raised me tenderly having no child but me

The "I" person in the song referred to as Pat (not John) leaves for America and promises his sweetheart to marry her on his return. But before leaving, he robs her and disavows [sp?] her. He is going to be hanged and asks God's mercy.Despite the given title, the song shares little in common with "Riley's Farewell" or "Touring Riley". C__ to the first here is Riley's leaving for service. The informant, as the collector's mother, learned the song around the time of World War II