McKain Lakey- Sadie's Song: Live at Frontier Home

A couple years ago, I embarked on a project to write responses to traditional murder ballads, in an attempt to give voice to the women whose stories never really get told. Here is my take on the story of "Little Sadie", written from the perspective of Sadie.

Filmed Live at Frontier Home in Seattle, WA
June 18, 2019

Sadie's Song
(c) McKain Lakey 2018

They'll know your story for a hundred years or more.
They'll hear the ringing of your goddamn .44.
They'll know about your prison time and running from the law,
but they won't remember your hateful face- they won't know all that I saw

The night you shot me down, my love, my dear Lee Brown.
The night you shot me down, Lee Brown.

I'm not as small as they all say, but you know I didn't run
for size and speed don't factor when you're staring down a gun.
You forced your body onto mine, while whispering my fate.
Then through my blood and tears you pulled a trigger laced with hate.

The night you shot me down, my love, my dear Lee Brown.
The night you shot me down, Lee Brown.

It's true I loved another and her love for me was plain.
I held two souls up to my heart and never felt ashamed.
So don't you try and blame me- don't tell me I was wrong.
You never should've killed me, or put me in your song.

The night you shot me down, my love, my dear Lee Brown.
The night you shot me down, Lee Brown.

Any love for you in this whole world, it's dying here with me.
In 41 years they'll turn you loose, but you never will be free.
For I'm not just a token, not just a line you've sung.
I'm every woman ever killed- I am every death bell rung.

The night you shot me down, my love, my dear Lee Brown.
The night you shot me down, Lee Brown.

Видео McKain Lakey- Sadie's Song: Live at Frontier Home канала McKain Lakey