Well, I received your letter this morning it was long as my right arm,
Well, I received your letter this morning you know it was long as my right arm,

It read 'hurry, don't be late' postmark Will Dockery's Farm,


I went on down to Dockery's and I asked for Mr. Sloan,
Well, I went on down to Dockery's and I asked for Henry Sloan,

They said 'Looka here, you too late, man, they got him all laid out on that cooling board,'


Well, I removed myself to Greenville so blind I could not see,
I removed myself to Greenville so blind I could not see,

It was there I drew my pistol 'cause that devil was swinging through the trees,


Well, they picked me up in Jackson not far from Mr. Speir's,
Well, they picked me up in Jackson not far from Henry Speir's,

That judge he sentenced me to death by hanging plus ninety-nine years,


I hollered 'Lord, have mercy' but they stole my voice,
I hollered 'Lord, have mercy' you know they stole my voice,

You know ol' Henry was a friend of mine and they really left me no other choice,


Well, my name was in the papers news traveled all through the wire,
My name was in the papers news traveled all through the wire,

The headline read 'One Man's Funeral Is Another Man's Trial,'


Now I'm standing in the saddle and my horse they turned him loose,
I'm standing in the saddle and my horse they turned him loose,

Everybody's pointing their fingers at me and my head is swinging in the noose,


He keeps a mask all 'round his face and a shine all on his shoes,
He keeps a mask all 'round his face and a shine all on his shoes,

But don't let him catch you off your feet boys with that hangman's blues,