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Little Sadie

from Live in Brooklyn by Painless Parker

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about

An old murder ballad, with many lovely renditions laid down over the years. Mine draws on Crooked Still and Mark Lanegan. Incidently, I named my mandolin after this tune.

lyrics

Went out one night to make a little round
Saw Little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
.44 pistol under my head

Woke up next morning 'bout a half past nine
The hack and the buggies were standing in line
Gents and gamblers standing around
To take Little Sadie to her burying ground

I started in thinking what a deed I'd done
Grabbed my hat and I started to run
Made a good run, just a little to slow
They overtook me in Jericho

I was standing on the corner, just a-reading a bill
Up steps the Sheriff of Thomasville
He said "Son, is your name Lee Brown?
Remember the night you shot Sadie Down?"

I said "Yes, oh yes, my name is Lee,
And I shot Little Sadie in the first degree
First degree and the second degree
If you got a warrant, then read it to me"

Well I was arrested and they dressed me in black
Put me on a train and they took me back
Had no money to pay my bail
So they threw my ass in the Thomasville jail

The Judge and the Jury, they took their stand
The judge held the verdict in the palm of his hand
It said forty-one days and forty one nights,
They gave me forty one years with a ball and stripes

Went out one night to make a little round
Saw Little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
.44 pistol under my head

credits

from Live in Brooklyn, released November 28, 2014
Words and music: Traditional
Vocals, Mandolin, foot tambourine: Painless Parker
Harmony: Hollerin' Molly Hebert-Wilson
Guitar, harmony: Rhubarb Bush

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Painless Parker Brooklyn, New York

Born under a barstool and raised by a pack of wild koalas, Painless Parker plays a mixed bag of country laments, sea shanties, murder ballads and classic rockers, filtered through a grimy, whiskey-stained punk lens. He's fluent in two languages, and can cuss in at least seventeen. He enjoys rabble-rousing, shindigging, booze drinking and merrymaking. ... more

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