Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds I took a shot of c**aine and I shot my baby down I shot her down then I went to bed I stuck that lovin' forty-four beneath my head Woke up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun Well, I took a shot of c**aine and away I run Made a good run but I run too slow They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico In the hot joint takin' the pill There walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down Yes, oh yes my name is Billy Lee If you've got a warrant you better read it to me I shot her down 'cause she made me sore I thought I was her daddy but she had five more When I was arrested, I was dressed in black They threw me on a freight train and hauled me back Had no friend who'd go my bail They stuck my dried-up carca** in that Missouri jail
Early next mornin', 'round half past nine I saw the sheriff comin' down the line That sheriff yelled as he cleared his throat Said, "Come on you dirty hackin' to the district court" Into the courtroom my trial began Where I was judged by twelve honest men Yes, as the jury started walkin' out I saw that little judge commence to look about In about five minutes then walked in a man Holding the verdict in his right hand The verdict read in the first degree Well, I shouted, "Lordy, Lordy, please have mercy on me" The judge he smiled, when he picked up his pen Ninety-nine years in the San Quentin Penn Ninety-nine years underneath that ground But I can't forget that day, I shot that bad b**h down Come on, you hot heads you listen unto me Stay off that whiskey, and let that c**aine be