William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
 With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ringed finger
 At a Baltimore hotel society gath'rin'
 And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
 As they rode him in custody down to the station
 And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
 But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
 Take the rag away from your face
 Now ain't the time for your tears.

 William Zanzinger who had twenty-four years
 Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred 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 [bad word] of his shoulders
 And swear words and sneering and his tongue it was a' snarling
 And in a matter of minutes on bail was out walking
 But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
 Take the rag away from your face
 Now ain't the time for your tears.

 Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen
 She was fifty-one years old 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 the whole lower 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 never done nothin' to William Zanzinger
 And you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
 Take the rag away from your face
 Now ain't the time for your tears.

 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 caught 'em
 And that ladder of law has no top and no bottom
 Stared at the person who killed for no reason
 Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin'
 And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
 And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
 William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
 Ah, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
 Bury the rag deep in your face
 For now's the time for your tears.