SEND ME TO THE 'LECTRIC CHAIR
George Brooks

as rec by Bessie Smith & her Band   
March 3rd 1927 New York


Judge, you wanna hear my plea
Before you open up your court,
But I don't want no sympathy,
'Cause I done cut my good man's throat!
I caught him with a triflin' Jane
I warned him 'bout before;
I had my knife and went insane
And the rest you ought to know.

Judge, Judge, please Mr Judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair!
Judge, Judge, good Mr Judge,
Let me go away from here.
I wanna take a journey to the devil down below,
I done killed my man, I wanna reap just what I sow!
Oh Judge, Judge, lawdy-lawdy Judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair!

Judge, Judge, hear me Judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair!
Judge, Judge, send me Judge,
I love him so dear.
I cut him with my Barlow, I kicked him in the side,
I stood there laughin' over him while he wobbled round and died!
Oh Judge, Judge, lawdy Judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair!

Judge, Judge, sweet Mr Judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair!
Judge, Judge, good kind Judge,
Burn me 'cause I don't care!
I don't want no bondin' mayor to go my bail,
I don't want to spend no ninety years in jail,
so Judge, Judge, good kind Judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair!





(Contributed by Peter Akers - May 2009)