It was late last night I made my rounds
I met my woman and I blowed her down
I went on home and I went to bed
I laid my pistol up under my head
Early next morning by the rising sun
I woke up and I started to run
I made a run, but I run too slow
A man overtook me down in Jericho
I was standing on the corner reading my daddy’s will
Along come a man, they called him Bad Texas Bill
He said «Captain, is your name Lee Brown?
I believe that you’re the rascal blowed your woman down.»
I said «Yes sir, Captain, my name is Lee
And if you’ve got any blues, boy, sing 'em to me.»
«Well I guess, Lee, that you know the best
You’d better come go with me, the judge’ll tell you the rest.»
When I was arrested, I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they brung me back
Jury found me guilty in the first degree
And they laid me down in the penitentiary
Yes, the judge found me guilty and the jury too
Cried, «Lord in heaven, have some mercy on me!»
I’ll be here for the rest of my life
All I done was kill my wife