Went out one night for to make a little round

I met little Sadie and I shot her down

Went back home and I got in my bed

44 pistol under my head

Wake up next morning 'bout a half past nine

The hacks and the buggies all standing in line

Gents and the gamblers standing all around

Taking little Sadie to her burying ground

Then I begin to think what a deed I'd done

I grabbed my hat and away I run

I made a good run but a little too slow

They overtook me in Jericho

I was standing on the corner, reading the bill

When up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville

He says, "Young man, ain't your name Brown?

Remember the night you shot Sadie down?"

I says, "Yes, sir, my name is Lee

I murdered little Sadie in the first degree

And the first degree and the second degree

If you got any papers, won't you read 'em to me?"

They took me downtown and dressed me in black

Put me on the train and started me back

They crammed me back in that Thomasville jail

And I had no money for to go my bail

That judge and the jury, they took their stand

The judge had the papers in his right hand

41 days and 41 nights

41 years to wear the ball and the stripes