And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
And he spoke through his cloak, so deep and distinguished
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
Take the rag away from your face
To show that alls equal and that the courts are on the level
At a Baltimore Hotel society gatherin'
In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
Take the rag away from your face
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
Bury the rag deep in your face
But in a matter of minutes on bail was out walking
Now ain't the time for your tears
William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen
Now ain't the time for your tears
But you who philosophize disgrace
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And that even the nobles get properly handled
And criticize all fears
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
And criticize all fears
Never sat once at the head of the table
And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
As they rode him in custody down to the station
She cleaned up the dishes hauled out the garbage
And criticize all fears
Now ain't the time for your tears
And criticize all fears
Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
But you who philosophize disgrace
Take the rag away from your face
And she never done nothing to William Zan zinger
She just cleaned up all the food from the table
But you who philosophize disgrace
Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin'
