I went out one night to take a little round
I met little Sadie and I blowed her down
I run back home and I got into bed
Forty-four smokeless under my head
Woke up next mornin' 'bout half past nine
The hacks and the buggies standing in line
Gents and the gamblers standing all around
To carry little Sadie to the burying ground
Well I begin to think, what a deed I done
I grabbed my hat and away I did run
I made a good run, just a little too slow
They overtook me in Jericho
Standing on the corner readin' the bill
Up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville
He said, young man, ain't 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
The first degree and the second degree
If you got any papers, don't you read 'em to me
They took me downtown, they dressed me in black
They put me on the train and they started me back
I had no money for to go my bail
So they crammed me back in the county jail
Judge and the jury took their stand
Judge he had the papers in his right hand
Forty-one days, forty-one nights
Forty-one years to wear the ball and the stripes