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Version 1 Version 2The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll Words and music: Bob Dylan Released on The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964) and Live 1975. Capo: IV [Verse 1] 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 gatherin' C Am Em And the cops was called in and his weapon took from him C Am Em As they rode him in custody down to the station C Am Em And booked William Zanzinger for first degree murder G [Chorus] F G C Am But you who philosophise disgrace F G C And criticise all fears F G C Am Take the rag away from your face F G C Now ain't the time for your tears [Verse 2] C Am Em William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years C Am Em Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres C Am Em With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him C Am Em And high office relations in the politics of Maryland C Am Em Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders C Am Em And swear words and sneering and his tongue it was a-snarling C Am Em And in a matter of minutes on bail was out walking G [Chorus] F G C Am But you who philosophise disgrace F G C And criticise fears F G C Am Take the rag away from your face F G C Now ain't the time for your tears [Verse 3] C Am Em Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen C Am Em She was 51 years old and gave birth to ten children C Am Em Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage C Am Em And never sat once at the head of the table C Am Em And didn't even talk to the people at the table C Am Em Who just cleaned up all the food from the table C Am Em And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level C Am Em Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane C Am Em That sailed through the air and came down through the room C Am Em Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle C Am Em And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger G [Chorus] F G C Am And you who philosophise disgrace F G C And criticise all fears F G C Am Take the rag away from your face F G C Now ain't the time for your tears [Harmonica solo] [Verse 4] C Am Em In the courtroom of honour the judge pounded his gavel C Am Em To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level C Am Em And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded C Am Em And that even the nobles get properly handled C Am Em Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em C Am Em And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom C Am Em Stared at the person who killed for no reason C Am Em Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin' C Am Em And he spoke through his cloak most deep and distinguished C Am Em And handed out strongly for penalty and repentance C Am Em William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence G [Chorus] F G C Am Ah but you who philosophise disgrace F G C And criticise all fears F G C Am Bury the rag deep in your face F G C For now's the time for your tears