traditional





Went out last night, take a little round

Met little Sadie and I blowed her down

Then I run right home and went to bed

With a forty-four smokeless under my head



The girls all heard little Sadie was dead

They went home to be ragged in red

Come a slippin' and a slidin' down the street

In their loose mother hubbards and their stocking feet



Well I began to think what a deed I'd done

Grabbed my hat and I started to run

I made a good run just a little too slow

And they overtook me in Jericho



Standing on the corner reading a bill

Up stepped the sheriff of Thomasville

Said young man is your name Lee Brown?

Remember the night you blowed Sadie down?



Yes I said my name is Lee

I murdered little Sadie in a first degree

First degree and a second degree

If ya got any papers, read 'em to me



Took me downtown, dressed me in black

Put me on a train and send me back

Didn't have no one to go on my bail

Throw me back in the county jail



Judge and the jury took their stand

Judge had the papers in his hand

Forty-one days and forty-one nights

Forty-one years just to wear them stripes