[Verse 1]
William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gathering
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they hauled him in custody down to the station
Booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder

[Chorus]
And you who philosophize disgrace
And criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears

[Verse 2]
William Zanzinger, who, at 24 years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
High office rеlations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shouldеrs
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue, it was snarling
In a matter of minutes, on bail, was out walking

[Chorus]
And you who philosophize disgrace
And criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
[Verse 3]
Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen
She was 51 years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and hauled out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger

[Chorus]
And you who philosophize disgrace
And criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears

[Harmonica Solo]

[Verse 4]
In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feeling that way without warning
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
[Chorus]
And you who philosophize disgrace
And criticize all fears
Bury the rag most deep in your face
Now is the time for your tears