[Intro]
C

[Verse 1]
C
Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds,
                               G
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down.
  G
I went right home and I went to bed,
  C     N.C.
I stuck that lovin' .44 beneath my head.

[Verse 2]
C
Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun.
                            G
Took a shot of cocaine and away I run.
G
Made a good run but I run too slow,
     C   N.C.
they overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico.

[Verse 3]
C
Laid in the hot joints takin' the pill.
                           G
In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill.
   G
He said Willie Lee, your name is not Jack Brown.
C      N.C.
You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down.

[Verse 4]
C
Said yes, oh yes, my name is Willie Lee.
                             G
If you've got a warrant just read it to me.
G
Shot her down because she made me slow.
  C       N.C.
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more.

[Verse 5]
C
When I was arrested, I was dressed in black. 
                                G
They put me on a train and they took me back. 
G
Had no friend for to go my bail. 
     C       N.C.
They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail.

[Verse 6]
C
Early next mornin' 'bout a half past nine,
                         G
I spied a sheriff comin' down the line.
G
Upped and he coughed as he cleared his throat,
             C   N.C.
He said come on, you dirty hack, into that district court.

[Verse 7]
C
Into the courtroom my trial began
                    G
Where I was held by twelve honest men.
G
Just before the jury started out,
  C   N.C.
I saw that little judge commence to look about.

[Verse 8]
C 
In about five minutes in walked a man
                       G
Holding the verdict in his right hand.
    G
The verdict read in the first degree,
  C  N.C.
I hollered lordy, lordy, have mercy on me.

[Verse 9]
C
The judge, he smiled as he picked up his pen.
                         G
Ninety-nine years in the Folsom pen.
G
Ninety-nine years underneath that ground,
  C     N.C.
I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down.

[Ending]
C                          F
Come all, you gotta listen unto me,
D                        G                C
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.