The 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
