Hattie Carroll Lyrics & Chords By Christy Moore

William Zanzinger killed Hattie Carroll With a cane that he twirled on his diamond ring finger At a Baltimore hotel society gathering The police were called in and his weapon took from him They drove him into custody down at the station Charged William Zanzinger with First Degree Murder And you who philosophise disgrace and criticise my fears Take that rag away from your face now's not the time for your tears When William Zanzinger was 24 He was farming tobacco on 600 acres With rich wealthy parents to provide and protect him High office relations in the politics of Maryland Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders With sneering and swear words his tongue it was snarling In less than 10 minutes on bail was out walking And you who philosophise disgrace and criticise my fears, Take that rag away from your face now's not the time for your tears. Hattie Carroll was a maid who worked in the kitchen 51 years old she had 10 children She carried the dishes and took out the garbage She never once sat at the head of the table She never even spoke to the people at the table Just cleared all the food from the table And emptied ashtrays on a whole other level Killed by a blow and lay slain by a cane That sailed through the air and came down through the room Doomed and determined to destroy all that's gentle She never did nothing to William Zanzinger And you who philosophise disgrace and criticise my fears Take that rag away from your face now's not the time for your tears At the courtroom of honour the Judge pounded his gavel To show all is equal and his court is on the level That the strings and the books are not pulled or persuaded Even the rich get properly treated Once the cops have chased them and caught them The ladder of the law has no top and no bottom He stared at that man who had killed for no reason Who just happened to be feeling that way without warning He spoke through his cloak most deep and distinguished And handed down strongly form penalty and repentance Gave William Zanzinger a 6 month sentence And you who philosophise disgrace and criticise my fears Bury that rag most deep in your face now is the time for your tears.