I went up on the mountain to see what poor Kelly done
He killed his woman and didn't even attempt to run
Up on the mountain just to see what poor Kelly done
Well, he killed his woman and he didn't even attempt to run

When I found poor Kelly, he was standing in the door
With a thirty-two twenty and a forty-four
When I found poor Kelly, he was standing in the door
With a thirty-two twenty and a hard-hitting forty-four

I asked him was he was sorry, he said, "Nobody know
Just can't stand the way she was treatin' me anymore
Just couldn't stand the way she was doin' me anymore
She's a dirty-mistreater, she won't jive me no more"

He said, "I know I loved her better than I did myself
She misused me for somebody else
She know I loved her better than I did myself
Still she tried to misuse me for somebody else"

"I know they gonna get me", he said, "But I know I don't care
They may even send me to the electric chair
I know they gonna get me but, babe, I don't care
There's one consolation, they won't leave my woman here"