| 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 slippin' and a slidin' 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 |