From Brixton Prison, Jebb Avenue London S.W. 2 Inglan

Dear mama
good day
I hope that when these few lines reach you
they may find you in the best of health
Mama, I really doun know how to tell ya dis
'cauz I did mek a solemn promise
to tek care a lickle Jim
an try mi bes fo look out fo him

Mama, I really did try mi bes
but none da less
me sorry to tell ya seh, poor lickle Jim get arres
it was de miggle a di rush hour
when hevrybody jus a hustle and a bustle
to go home to dem evenin shower
mi an Jim stan up waitin pon a bus
not causin no fuss

when all on a sudden a police van pull up
out jump tree policeman
de whole a dem carryin baton
dem walk straight up to me and Jim
one a dem hold on to lickle Jim
seh dem tekin him in
Jim tell him to leggo a him
for him nah do nutt'n
and 'im nah t'ief, not even a but'n
Jim start to wriggle
de police start to giggle

Mama, mek I tell you wa dem do to Jim?
Mama, mek I tell you wa dem do to 'im?

Dem thump him him in him belly and it turn to jelly
Dem lick 'im pon 'im back and 'im rib get pop
Dem lick him pon him head but it tough like lead
Dem kick 'im in 'im seed and it started to bleed

Mama, I jus couldn't stan up deh, nah do nuttin'

So mi jook one in him eye and him started to cry
me thump him pon him mout and him started to shout
me kick him pon him shin so him started to spin
me hit him pon him chin an him drop pon a bin
- an crash, an dead

Mama, More policman come dung
dem beat me to the grung
dem charge Jim fo sus
dem charge mi fo murdah

mama, doan fret
doan get depress an downhearted
be of good courage
till I hear from you
I remain
Your son,
Sonny