The ToneWay® Project: helping people play music


Little Sadie

Went out last night to take a little round
I met Little Sadie and I blowed her down
I run right home and I went to bed
A forty-four smokeless under my head

Woke up next mornin' 'bout half past nine
The hacks and the buggies all standin' in line
Gents and gamblers standing around
Carrying little Sadie to her burying ground

I begin to think, what a deed I done
I grabbed my hat and away I did run
I made a good run, just a little to slow
They overtook me in Jericho

Standing on the corner a-ringing a bell
And up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville
Says, Young man, is your name Brown
Remember the night you blowed Sadie down

Oh, yes, Sir, my name is Lee
I murdered little Sadie in the first degree
First degree and second degree
Got any papers, will you read 'em to me

Took me downtown and dressed me in black
They put me on a train and they sent me back
Had no one for to go my bail
Crammed me back in the county jail

Judge and the jury took their stand
Judge had his papers in his right hand
Forty-one days, forty-one nights
Forty-one years to wear the ball and the stripes

Available in these books:

Big Print Songs
Over 200 songs.
Featuring large-print lyrics (20-point type) and chords, historical info, jamming hints, and more.

A song from the Mountain Music for Everyone Song Collection from the ToneWay Project. Our website has lyrics to nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. Most songs also include a free MP3 recording that you can listen to. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and resources for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com