Betty told Dupree

I wants me a diamond ring oh baby

Betty told Dupree

I wants me a diamond ring oh sugar

Now listen mama
Your daddy bring you most anything

He had to kill a policeman

And he wound a detective too oh sugar

Killed a detective
Wounded a policeman too oh babe

See here mama what you caused me to do

Hired him a taxi

Said can't you drive me back
To main say taxi

Then he hired him a taxi

Said carry me back to main oh baby

I've done a hanging crime yet
I don't never feel ashamed

Standing there wondering

Will a matchbox hold my clothes oh baby

Standing there wondering

Matchbox hold my clothes

Said a trunk was too big

To be bothered on the road

Rested poor Dupree

Placed him in the jail oh Lord

Rested poor Dupree

Placed him in the jail oh babe

He had the mean old judge went
And refuse to sign him any bail

Wrote a letter to Betty

And this is the way the letter read oh baby
He wrote a letter to Betty

And this is the way the letter read oh Lord

Come home to your daddy I'm almost dead

Betty went to the Jailer crying
Mister Jailer please oh baby

Betty went to the Jailer crying
Jailer please oh Lord

Please Mister Jailer

Let me see my used-to-be