COCAINE BLUES
(T.J. "Red" Arnall - based on an older traditional song variously
titled "Penitentiary Blues", "Little Sadie" and "Bad Lee Brown")

W.A. Nichol's Western Aces (vocal: "Red" Arnall) - 1947
Roy Hogsed - 1948
Johnny Cash - 1958 (titled "Transfusion Blues")
Hank Thompson - 1959
Hylo Brown - 1963
Johnny Cash - 1968
George Thorogood & The Destroyers - 1978
Merle Travis - 1981
Hank Willimas III - 1999
Joaquin Phoenix (feat. in the film "Walk The Line") - 2005
Merle Haggard - 2011




As recorded by ROY HOGSED:

Early one mornin' while makin' my rounds
Took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
Went right home and I went to bed 
And stuck that lovin' forty-four beneath my head

Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun 
Took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run, but I ran too slow 
They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico

Playin' in the hot joints and smokin' the pills 
In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said, "Willy Lee, your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down"

"Yes, oh yes, my name is Willy Lee 
If you've got a warrant just read it to me
Shot her cold 'cause she made me sore
I thought I was her daddy, but she had five more"

When I was arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they brought me back
Had no friends to go my bail 
They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail

(Instrumental Break)

Early next mornin' 'bout a-half-past-nine 
I spied the sheriff comin' down the line
Hacked and he coughed as he cleared his throat
He said, "Come on you dirty hack into that district court"

Into the courtroom my trial began 
Where I was panelled by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out 
I saw that little judge commence to look about

In about five minutes in walked the man 
Holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read in the first degree 
I hollered, "Lawdy Lawdy, have mercy on me"

The judge he smiled as he picked up his pen 
Ninety-nine years in the San Quentin pen
Ninety-nine years underneath that ground 
I ne'er forget the day I shot my woman down

Come on you hypes and listen unto me 
Just lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2018)


********************


As recorded by JOHNNY CASH:

Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
I went right home and I went to bed 
I stuck that lovin' forty-four beneath my head

Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun 
Took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run, but I run too slow 
They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico

Late in the hot joint takin' the pill 
In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said, "Willy Lee, your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down"

Said, "Yes, oh yes, my name is Willy Lee 
If you've got the warrant just a-read it to me
Shot her down because she made me slow
I thought I was her daddy, but she had five more"

When I was arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they took me back
Had no friend for to go my bail 
They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail

Early next mornin' 'bout a-half-past-nine 
I spied the sheriff coming down the line
Houghed and he coughed as he cleared his throat
He said, "Come on you dirty hack into that district court"

Into the courtroom my trial began 
Where I was handled by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out 
I saw that little judge commence to look about

In about five minutes in walked the man 
Holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read in the first degree 
I hollered, "Lawdy Lawdy, have a mercy on me"

The judge he smiled as he picked up his pen 
Ninety-nine years in the Folsom pen
Ninety-nine years underneath that ground 
I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down

Come all you guys and listen unto me 
Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be


********************


Alternate 1944 version as recorded by WOODY GUTHRIE:

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 mornin' by the risin' 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 standin' on the corner readin' my daddy's will
Along come a man, they called him Bad Texas Bill
He said, "Ah, Captain, is your name Lee Brown?
I believe it's you, you rascal, blowed your woman down"

I said, "Yessir, 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
Put me on a train andthey brung me back
Jury found me guilty in the first degree
And they laid me down in the penitentiary

Yes, the Judge found the jerk guilty and the Jury too
Cried, "Lord in Heaven have some mercy on me"
I'll be here fer the rest o' my life
All I done was kill my wife


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2018)


********************


Alternate 1947 version as recorded by BILLY HUGHES:

Comin' home from work in that old Tulsa town
Caught my baby triflin' and I shot her down
I went to bed, but I rolled all night
I knew I had to beat it before daylight

'Bout four o'clock someone knocked on my door
I grabbed my pistol and I fell on the floor
I heard a man callin' my baby's name
I opened up the door and I blew out his brain

When I realised the thing I had done
I grabbed my hyperdermic and I made my run
I made a good start, but I ran too slow
They got me in a dive down in El Paso

I'm sittin' at a table a-blowin' the stick
A plain clothes grabbed me and he got me quick
"Now don't try to tell us your name is Brown
You're the Cocaine Kid that shot your woman down"

I knew they had me solid with no alibi
It wouldn't help me any if I told a lie
I said, "I'm the Kid and I'm beat you see
So if you've got a warrant just read it to me"

He said, "You shot your woman and a rounder too
They might've had it comin', but it's bad for you"
Well I said, "I'm no angel and I'm full of sin
But under those conditions I would do it again"

When I was arrested I was dressed in blue
They handcuffed me and throwed me on an old choo-choo
I didn't have a nickel, couldn't make the bail
So they shook me down and throwed me in that old dirty jail

Jury walked out and then they walked back in
The Foreman held the verdict in his right hand
Ninety-nine years way down in Mac
Made me regret the night I wouldn't take her back

Now listen all you dopers, take my advice
Don't ever use a needle anymore than twice
For you'll become an addict and blow your lid.
Take a look at what it did to the Cocaine Kid


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - September 2018)


********************


Alternate 1962 version as recorded by CLARENCE ASHLEY:

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

I begin to think what a deed I done
I grabbed my hat and away'd I'd 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 night, 
Forty-one years to wear the ball and the stripes


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - September 2018)