Yesterday in old Fall River, Mr. Andrew Borden died,
And they got his daughter Lizzie on a charge of homicide
Some folks say she didn't do it others say of course she did
But they all agree, Miss Lizzie B. was a problem kinda kid
'Cause you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
Not even if it's planned as a surprise
No, you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
You know how neighbors love to criticize
Well, she got him on the sofa where he'd gone to take a snooze,
And I hope he went to heaven, 'cause he wasn't wearing shoes
Lizzie kinda rearranged him with a hatchet so they say
Then she got her mother in that same old fashioned way
But you can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
Not even if you're tired of her cuisine
No can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
You know it's almost sure to cause a scene
Oh they really kept her hoppin on that busy afternoon
With both down and upstairs hoppin while she hummed a ragtime tune
They really made her hustle and when all was said and done
She removed her mother's bustle when she wasn't wearing one
Now can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
And then blame all the damage on the mice
No you can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
That sort of thing just isn't very nice.
Now it wasn't done for pleasure and it wasn't done for spite
And it wasn't done because the lady wasn't very bright
She'd always done the slightest thing that mom and papa bid
They said, "Lizzie, cut it out!" so that's exactly what she did!
But you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
And then get dressed and go out for a walk
No you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
Massachausettes is a far cry from New York
Shut the door and lock and latch it - here comes Lizzie with a brand new hatchet!
Such a snob I heard it said, she met her pa and cut him dead!
Jump like a fish - jump like a porpoise, all join hands and habeas corpus!
And they got his daughter Lizzie on a charge of homicide
Some folks say she didn't do it others say of course she did
But they all agree, Miss Lizzie B. was a problem kinda kid
'Cause you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
Not even if it's planned as a surprise
No, you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
You know how neighbors love to criticize
Well, she got him on the sofa where he'd gone to take a snooze,
And I hope he went to heaven, 'cause he wasn't wearing shoes
Lizzie kinda rearranged him with a hatchet so they say
Then she got her mother in that same old fashioned way
But you can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
Not even if you're tired of her cuisine
No can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
You know it's almost sure to cause a scene
Oh they really kept her hoppin on that busy afternoon
With both down and upstairs hoppin while she hummed a ragtime tune
They really made her hustle and when all was said and done
She removed her mother's bustle when she wasn't wearing one
Now can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
And then blame all the damage on the mice
No you can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
That sort of thing just isn't very nice.
Now it wasn't done for pleasure and it wasn't done for spite
And it wasn't done because the lady wasn't very bright
She'd always done the slightest thing that mom and papa bid
They said, "Lizzie, cut it out!" so that's exactly what she did!
But you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
And then get dressed and go out for a walk
No you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
Massachausettes is a far cry from New York
Shut the door and lock and latch it - here comes Lizzie with a brand new hatchet!
Such a snob I heard it said, she met her pa and cut him dead!
Jump like a fish - jump like a porpoise, all join hands and habeas corpus!