This song like folk songs of other places recounts a social event. Here, the details of a murder were etched into Barbadian history.

Chrous

Murder in de market, Murder!

Murder in de market, Murder!

Murder in de market, Murder!

Betsy Thomas she kill Payne stone dead.

Verse 1

Payne dead Payne dead, stone dead 

Payne dead Payne dead, stone dead 

Payne dead Payne dead, stone dead 

Betsy Thomas she kill Payne stone dead.

Verse 2

Ah ain’t kill nobody but muh husband. 

Ah ain’t kill nobody but muh husband. 

Ah ain’t kill nobody but muh husband. 

So ah kin face Mr. Parker independent. 

Verse 3

She ain’t kill nobody but she husband. 

She ain’t kill nobody but she husband. 

She ain’t kill nobody but she husband. 

So she kin face Mr. Parker independent. 

Verse 4

De big Grand Session is tomorrow. 

De big Grand Session is tomorrow. 

De big Grand Session is tomorrow. 

An’ she facin’ de judge independent.