COCAINE BLUES
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "At Folsom Prison" (1968)
1. [C] Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds,
I took a shot of cocaine and I [G] shot my woman down.
I went right home and I went to bed.
I stuck that [C] lovin' forty-four be-[G]-neath my [C] head.
2. [C] Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun,
Took a shot of cocaine and a-[G]-way I run,
Made a good run but I run too slow.
They [C] overtook me down in Juar-[G]-ez Mexi-[C]-co.
3. Laid in the hop joints takin' the pill.
In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill.
He said: "Willie Lee, your name is not Jack Brown.
You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down."
4. "Yes, oh, yes, my name is Willie Lee.
If you've got a warrant just read it to me.
Shot her down because she made me slow.
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more."
5. 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.
6. Early next mornin' 'bout a half past nine,
I spied the sheriff comin' down the line.
He hocked and he coughed as he cleared his throat.
He said: "Come on, you dirty hack, into that district court."
7. 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.
8. In about five minutes in walked a man
Holding the verdict in his right hand.
The verdict read: "In the first degree."
I hollered: "Lordy, Lordy, have mercy on me!"
9. 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.
CODA: Come on; you gotta listen unto me:
Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.
COCAINE BLUES
As recorded by Roy Hogsed & His Rainbow Riders, 1948.
The lyrics are the same as those sung by Johnny Cash (see above) except these:
Verse 3, line 1: Layin' in a hop joint a-smokin' a pill.
Verse 3, line 4: You're the dirty hype that shot your woman down.
Verse 4, line 3: Shot her cold 'cause she made me sore.
Verse 6, line 4: He said: "Come on, you dirty hype, into that district court."
Verse 7, line 2: Where I was paneled by twelve honest men.
Verse 9, line 2: Ninety-nine years in the San Quentin pen.
Verse 9, line 4: I'll ne'er forget the day I shot my woman down.
CODA, line 1: Come on, you hypes, and listen unto me:
[Note: I have seen Hogsed's name misspelled as "Hogshed" and "Hogshead."]
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COCAINE BLUES
As recorded by Billy Hughes on King 636A, 1947.
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 realized the thing I had done,
I grabbed my hypodermic 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' a stick.
A plainclothes 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 have 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 any more than twice,
For you'll become an addict and blow your lid.
Take a look at what it did to the Cocaine Kid.
[* Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, OK.]