music & lyrics:
traditional
___________________________________________________
Went out last night to
take a look around
Met little
Sadie and I blew her down
Went right home,
went to bed
Forty-four smokeless under my head
Well I began to think what a deed I'd done
Grabbed my hat and away I run
Made a good run, but a little too slow
They overtook me in
Jericho
Standing on the corner reading a bill
Along came the sheriff from
Thomasville
Says "Young man, is your name
Brown?
Remember the night you blowed Sadie down?"
Oh, yes sir, my name is
Lee,
I murdered little Sadie in the
first degree
First degree and the
second degree
Got any papers woould you read 'em to me
Well they took me downtown all dressed in black
Put me on the train and sent me back
Sent me back to the
county jail
I had nobody for to go my
bail
The
judge and the
jury they took the stand
The judge held the paper in his right hand
Forty-one days, forty-one nights
Forty-one years to wear
the ball and stripes