Jo Jo was a black man
Half black and Cherokee
He worked old man McConnell’s farm
But was more like family

East of McConnell’s was a rich man
Richest man in Tennessee
He had himself a daughter “you all”
Her name was Ella Lee
Sweet, sweet Ella Lee

Ella and Jo Jo became lovers
They meet at night below the old oak tree
Jo Jo could see trouble
But never could say no to Ella Lee
His sweet, sweet Ella Lee

Out of nowhere they came from the night
With hate on their faces, and murder in their eyes
Two foot up they hung him from that tree
Gasping an dying while they raped his Ella Lee

Ella was left crazy and broken
But came to life when she had her son
The baby was as white as white
With the face of her Jo Jo Gunn
The face of her Jo Jo Gunn

Her daddy sent her far away
Up North to Illinois
No longer had a place in his heart
For Ella or the boy
Joe knew nothing of his father
Ella kept her secret past
To save little Joe from trouble
But he was growing fast
She knew it wouldn’t last

Ella was dying and asked for her son
One last request from my favored one
At McConnell’s farm down in Tennessee
Lay me down below the hanging tree
Right below the hanging tree

He took the train to Chattanooga
Horse and buggy to McConnell’s spread
A man with a face like leather said,
“If you’re here, then your mama’s dead.
Sweet, sweet Ella’s dead.”

He paused, took a drink of whiskey
Told Joe to take one too...He said,
I made a promise to your mama son
It’s the last thing she’d have me do
Is tell this story to you.”

Now there is a giant tombstone
Underneath the hanging tree
Here lies the murdered Jo Jo Gun
and my mother sweet Ella Lee

All you children take notice
The tree where my father was hung
And I curse all for what was done
In the night, of the year 1891.

Signed by the son of Jo Jo gun
Here below the hanging tree
Here below the hanging tree