The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
Words and music by Bob Dylan

From: wuest@informatik.uni-kl.de (Juergen Wuest)

Capo at 4th fret

1st verse:

C          Am            Em
William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
       C            Am                 Em
With a cane that he twirled 'round his diamond ring finger
     C         Am      Em
At a Baltimore hotel society gathering
        C                Am         Em
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
        C           Am      Em
As they rode him in custody down to the station
           C          Am         Em                   G
And booked William Zanzinger for first degree murder


chorus:

      F   G      C          Am         F    G        C
  But you who philosophy disgrace, and criticize all fears
  F        G    C             Am    F             G             C 
  Take the rag away from your face, now ain't the time for your tears.


2nd verse:

William Zanzinger who had just twentyfour years
Owns a tabacco farm of sixhundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering and his tongue it was snarling
And in a matter of minutes on bail he was out walking

   repeat chorus

3rd verse:

Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen
She was fiftyone years and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn't even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And she'd never done nothing to William Zanzinger

   repeat chorus

4th verse:

In the courtroom of honor the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and cought him
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for nor reason
Who just happened to be feeling that way without warning
And he spoke through his cloak most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly for penalty and repentence
William Zanzinger with a six month sentence


final chorus:

         F   G      C          Am         F    G        C
  Ah but you who philosophy disgrace, and criticize all fears
  F        G   C            Am        F          G             C 
  Bury the rag deep in your face, for now is the time for your tears.