I'm layin' here in this jailhouse, scared as any fool can be
Well, I'm layin' here in this jailhouse, scared as any fool can be
I believe they're gonna hang me, from what my lawyer said to me

My man got runnin' around with a woman he know I can't stand
My man got runnin' around with a woman he know I can't stand
There's one notch on my gun, and the world's rid of one triflin' man

I scrubbed them pots and kettles, I washed and ironed them white folks' clothes
I scrubbed them pots and kettles, I washed and ironed them white folks' clothes
Any charge that I'm makin', I killed him, Judge, and that's all I know

Judge, if you had killed your woman, and had to come before me
If you'da killed a woman who trifled and had to come before me
I'd send her to the gallows, and, Judge, would let you go free

I said I ain't done nothin but killed a man what belonged to me
I said I ain't done nothin but killed a man what belonged to me
And here they got me charged with murder in the first degree