Went out last night making my rounds
met little Sadie and I shot her down
I went home, went to bed
forty-four smoker rocking under my head

I woke up half past nine
guns all rolling down the line
I got to thinkin bout the deed I done
found my hat and away I run

Made a pretty good run but a little too slow
Sheriff overtook me down in Baltimore
I was standing on the corner reading the bill
and up stepped the man from Louisville

He said young man is your name Brown
Are you the man who shot Sadie down
No sir, No sir my name is Lee
If you got any papers don't you read 'em to me