The Fate of Dewey Lee Songtext
von The Carter Family

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