The Fate Of Dewey Lee

‘Twas on one Saturday evening

About the hour of ten

In a little mining town

Where trouble did begin

Everybody there were drinking

There were whiskey everywhere

Dewey Lee got to thinking

He had no business there

He was so tall and handsome

His heart so true and brave

Joe Jenkins pulled his pistol

And sent him to his grave

He took the life of Dewey

When life had just began

And Dewey went to Heaven

While Joe went to the pen

He took the life of Dewey

Because he would not tell

We know he murdered Dewey

For Dewey’s pistol fell

His mother sits now weepin’

She weeps and mourns all day

She prays to meet her boy

In a better world some day

So hearken to my story

And what I have to say

Get right with your Maker

We’ll meet Him again some day

The clerk said, “Stand up, boy

And listen to your crime!”

They sent him down to Richmond

To serve out his time

Young men all take warning

For this you must outlive

Don’t take the life of anyone

For life you cannot give

You may possess great riches

Put many beneath the sod

But money won’t hire a lawyer

When you stand before your God

Recorded 5/8/35 New York, NY