Little Sadie

I went out one night for to make a little round,
Met little Sadie and I shot her down.
Went back home, got into bed,
A forty-four pistol under my head.

I woke up the next morning about half past nine,
The hacks and the buggics all standing in line.
Gents and gamblers standin' around,
Carried little Sadie to her buryin' ground.

Well I began to think of 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 standin' on the corner a readin' the bill,
When up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville.
He said young man ain't your name Brown,
Remember that night you shot Sadie down.

Well I said yes sir but my name is Lee,
And I shot little Sadie in the first degree.
First degree, second degree,
If you got any papers won't you read them to me.

They took me down town, dressed me in black,
Put me on train and then started me back.
All the way back to that Thomasville jail,
And I had no money for to go my bail.

Well the judge and the jury took their stand,
The judge had the papers in his right hand.
Forty-one days, forty-one nights,
Forty-one years with the ball and stripes.