Lyrics Ella Speed (54-A) - Leadbelly

Ella Speed (54-A)

Bill Martin he was long an' slender
Better known by bein' a bartender
Bill Martin he was long an' slender
Better known by bein' a bartender
Bill Martin he was a man whut had a very small hand
He worked ev’y night at de coffee stand
Bill Martin he was a man whut had a very small hand
He worked ev’y night at de coffee stand
He walked out for to borrow a gun'
Something Bill Martin had never done
Ella Speed was downtown havin' her lovin' fun
Long came Bill Martin wid his Colt 41
De fust ball it entered in po' Ella’s side
De nex' ball entered in her breas'
De third ball it entered in her head;
Dat’s de ball dat put po' Ella to bed
All de young gals eome a-runnin'an'cryin'
All de young gals come a-runnin'an'a-cryin'
«It ain' but de one thing worry de po' gal’s min'-
She lef' her two lil boys behin'.»
De deed dat Bill Martin done'
Jedge sentence: «You gonna be hung.»
De deed dat Bill Martin done'
Jedge sentence: «You gonna be hung.»
They taken Bill Martin to de freight depot
An' de train come rollin' by He wave his han' at de woman dat he love
An' he hung down his head an' he cry
All you young girls better take heed'
Don' you do like po' Ella Speed;
Some day you will go for to have a lil fun
An’a man will do you like Bill Martin done