Here's my transcription from Spotify. Most of the words are the same as the version posted earlier, but some verses are in a different order. I don't think any part of this song can fairly be called a "chorus." The tune is the same for every couplet.


JOSHUA GONE BARBADOS
As sung by Eric Von Schmidt on "Living on the Trail" (2002)

Oh well, the cane standin' in the field, gettin' old and red.
A lot o' trouble in Georgetown; three men lyin' dead.

There's Joshua's head of the government; he says, "Strike for better pay."
The cane cutters they strikin', Lord, but Joshua's gone away.

Well, Joshua's gone Barbados, stayin' in a big hotel.
The people on St. Vincent got many sad tales to tell.

Oh well, the sugar mill owners told the strikers, "I don't need you to cut my cane.
Bring in another bunch of fellas; well, your strike be all in vain."

And a lot o' mis'ry in Georgetown; you can hear the women bawl.
Joshua's gone Barbados; well-a, he don't care at all.

Yes-a, Joshua's gone Barbados, just like he don't know.
Poor people on this island ain't got nowhere to go.

Oh well, they get a lot o' tough fellas, they bring 'em from Sion Hill,
Bring 'em in a bus to Georgetown; you know somebody get killed.

Sonny Child, the overseer, I swear he's an ignorant man.
He's a-walkin' through the cane field with a pistol in his hand.

Oh well, Joshua gone Barbados; he's stayin' in a big hotel.
The people on St. Vincent, they got many sad tales to tell.

Oh well, the police they givin' protection to new fellas cuttin' cane.
The strikers can't do nothin'; their strike be all in vain.

And Sonny Child, he cursed a striker; he wave his pistol 'round.
Well, they beatin' Sonny with a cutlass, man; they beat him to the ground.

Yeah, Joshua gone Barbados just like he don't know.
Poor people on this island ain't got nowhere to go.

Oh well, the cane standin' in the field, gettin' old an' red.
Sonny Child in the hospital, Lord, a pistol on his bed.

I wisht I could go now to England, Trinidad, or Curacao.
The poor people on St. Vincent ain't got nowhere to go.

Oh well, Joshua gone Barbados, stayin' in a big hotel.
People on St. Vincent got many sad tales to tell.