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.
The girls all heard little Sadie was dead, They went home to be ragged in red. Come a slipping and a sliding down the street In their loose mother hubbards and their stocking feet.
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.
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?"
"Yes", I said, "My name is Lee. I murdered little Sadie in a first degree. First degree and a second degree. If ya got any papers, read 'em to me.
Took me downtown, dressed me in black, Put me on a train and send me back. Didn't have no one to go on my bail Throw me back in the county jail".
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 to wear them stripes.