I went out one night for to make a little round
I met little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home got into bed
A forty-four pistol under my head
I wake up the next morning about half past nine
The hacks and the buggies all standing in line
Gents and camper are standing around
Carrying little Sadie to her burying ground

Well I began to think of what a deed I'd done
I grabbed my hat and away I run
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
Said, 'Young man ain't your name Brown?
Remember the 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 and the second degree
If you got any papers won't you read them to me'
They took me down town and dressed me in black
And they put me on a train and 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 and forty-one nights
Forty-one years to wear the ball and stripes