beginner
Little Sadie
Doc Watson
Jerry Garcia
Jam Along
Chord Chart
A x2
Dm
F
C
C
C
C
A7
A7
Dm
Dm
Chords used:
A7
Am
C
Dm
F
Lyrics
Went out one night to make a little round
I met Little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
.44 pistol under my head
I woke up in the morning about half-past-nine
The hacks and the buggies standing in line
Gents and gamblers standing around
Taking Little Sadie to her burying ground
I began to think of what a deed I'd done
I grabbed my hat and away I did run
Made a good run, just a little too slow
They overtook me in Jericho
Standing on the corner a reading a bill
And up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville
He said, Miss, is your name Brown?
Remember the night you shot Sadie down?
I said, Oh yes sir, but my name is Lee
And I murdered Little Sadie in the first degree
First degree and second degree
Got any papers, will you read 'em to me?
So they took me downtown and dressed me in black
Put me on a train and started me back
All the way back to the Thomasville jail
Had no money for to go my bail
The judge and the jury they took their stand
The judge had the papers in his right hand
41 days, 41 nights
41 years to wear the ball and stripes
Went out one night to make a little round
I met Little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
.44 pistol under my head
Demo Videos
Little Sadie - Billy Strings - High Sierra Music Fest -Doc Watson Tribute - June 30, 2017
Ted Silverman AKA TedToob
SPBGMA 2022 Jam - Little Sadie
Stephen Hudson
Crooked Still - The Last of Us "Little Sadie" Green Mountain Bluegrass 2024
Less Than Face Productions
DOC WATSON, TONY RICE, DAN CRARY, STEVE KAUFMAN & JACK LAWRENCE - Little Sadie
GtrWorkShp
About This Song
Little Sadie is a dark murder ballad made famous by Doc Watson's driving flatpicked version, though it has deep roots in traditional Appalachian music. The song tells the story of a man who shoots his unfaithful lover and faces the consequences. It's also been recorded by Jerry Garcia and numerous other artists, and remains a staple at bluegrass jams.
Practice Little Sadie with the Grass App
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