Here is the Lomax text.

IDA RED

I went down town one day in a lope
Fool around till I stole a coat
Den I come back and done my bes'
Fool around till I got de ves'
Oh, weep! Oh, my Ida!
Fer over dat road Ise bound to go

Dey carry me down to de jailhouse do'
Where I never had been befo'
The jailer come out wid a key in his han'
Say, 'I jest got room fer one young man'
Oh, weep! Oh, my Ida!
Fer over dat road Ise bound to go

Send little Ida down in town
To git somebody fer to go my boun'
But she come back wid a very sad tale
' 'Cain't git nobody fer to go your bail'
Oh, weep! Oh, my Ida!
Fer over dat road I'm bound to go

Dey had me tied with a ball and chain
Waitin' all ready fer de east-bound train
And every station that we pass by
Seem like I heard little Ida cry
Oh, weep! Oh, my Ida!
Fer over dat road I'm bound to go

If I had listened to what Ida said
I'd been sleepin' in Ida's bed
But I pay no mind to my Ida Red
An' now Ise sleepin' in a convict's bed
Oh, weep! Oh, my Ida!
Fer over dat road I'm bound to go

I wash my face and I comb my head
Ise a mighty fool about Ida Red
When I git out of dis old shack
Tell little Ida Ise comin' back
Oh, weep! Oh, my Ida!
Fer over dat road I'm bound to go

Source: John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax 'American Ballads and Folk Songs' Macmillan 1934, 23rd printing 1972 pp110-111.


--Stewie.