[Verse 1]
Went out last night, take a little round
Met little Sadie and I blowed her down
Then I run right home and went to bed
With a forty-four smokeless under my head

[Verse 2]
The girls all heard little Sadie was dead
They went home to be ragged in red
Come a-slippin' and a-slidin' down the street
In their loose Mother Hubbards and their stocking feet

[Verse 3]
Well I began to think what a deed I'd done
Grabbed my hat and I started to run
I made a good run, just a little too slow
And they overtook me in Jericho

[Verse 4]
Standing on the corner reading a bill
Up stepped the sheriff of Thomasville
Said, "Young man, is your name Lee Brown?
Remember the night you blowed Sadie down?"

[Verse 5]
"Well yes," I said, "my name is Lee
I murdered little Sadie in a first degree
First degree and a second degree
If you got any papers, read 'em to me"
[Verse 6]
Took me downtown, dressed me in black
Put me on a train and sent me back
Didn't have no one to go on my bail
Throw me back in a county jail

[Verse 7]
Judge and the jury took their stand
Judge had the papers in his hand
Forty-one days and forty-one nights
Forty-one years just wearing them stripes