Ella Speed (54-A) - Leadbelly

Bill Martin he was long an' slender

Better known by bein' a bartender

Bill Martin he was long an' slender

Better known by bein' a bartender

Bill Martin he was a man whut had a very small hand

He worked ev’y night at de coffee stand

Bill Martin he was a man whut had a very small hand

He worked ev’y night at de coffee stand

He walked out for to borrow a gun'

Something Bill Martin had never done

Ella Speed was downtown havin' her lovin' fun

Long came Bill Martin wid his Colt 41

De fust ball it entered in po' Ella’s side

De nex' ball entered in her breas'

De third ball it entered in her head;

Dat’s de ball dat put po' Ella to bed

All de young gals eome a-runnin'an'cryin'

All de young gals come a-runnin'an'a-cryin'

«It ain' but de one thing worry de po' gal’s min'-

She lef' her two lil boys behin'.»

De deed dat Bill Martin done'

Jedge sentence: «You gonna be hung.»

De deed dat Bill Martin done'

Jedge sentence: «You gonna be hung.»

They taken Bill Martin to de freight depot

An' de train come rollin' by He wave his han' at de woman dat he love

An' he hung down his head an' he cry

All you young girls better take heed'

Don' you do like po' Ella Speed;

Some day you will go for to have a lil fun

An’a man will do you like Bill Martin done