Bessie Smith - Sing Sing Prison Blues lyrics

Gonna journey up the Hudson Goin' on a lonesome trail Gonna journey up the Hudson Goin' on a lonesome trail They can put me in the d**h House Or keep me in the Sing Sing Jail I wrote and asked the warden Why they called the jail the Sing Sing I wrote and asked the warden Why the called the jail the Sing Sing He said, "Stand here by this rock pile And listen to them hammers ring" He turns in the court house Papers sellin' for fifty cents He turns in the court house Papers sellin' for fifty cents All the judge tryin' to tell me My lawyer's pleadin' self defense The judge said, "Listen, Bessie Tell me why you k**ed your man" The judge said, "Listen, Bessie Tell me why you k**ed your man" I said, "Judge, you ain't no woman And you can't understand" You can send me up the river Or send me to that mean old jail You can send me up the river Or send me to that mean old jail I k**ed my man and I don't need no bail