Well, here they are, trancribed from the CD, At Calvary by The Larry Nelson Family of Alread, Arkansas. Through the miracles of Real Audio and Email attachments, and Gene's considerable help, I think that they are correct. I still have no idea where they got these lyrics, but I stand by my opinion that they predate the Carter version. As I indicated earlier, The Nelson Family would tend toward accuracy, rather than just guessing or adapting lyrics. Uhh, I just looked at Charles K. Wolfe's notes for The Carter Family, My Clinch Mountain Home, Rounder CD 1065, 1993. ~~ should have looked there first!

"Diamonds In The Rough" was another old shape-note gospel song that A. P. found and rearranged; Sara remembers him getting it from another old hymn book, but exactly which one is not clear. The song itself had been written and copyrighted back in 1897, with composer credits to C. W. Byron and arrangement credits to Arthur F. Ingler. Researcher Norm Cohen, though, has noted that the first stanza heard here does not appear in the printed texts, and may have been taken from a 1924 recording of the piece of Grand Old Opry star Uncle Dave Macon.

I think that pretty much clears things up, at least in my mind, so I am adding composer credits to the lyrics below. I think it is safe to say that the version that The Nelsons sing derives from those earlier texts.

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
(C. W. Byron - Arthur F. Ingler as recorded by The Larry Nelson Family, 1999)

Oh, many hearts are aching, we see them everywhere
Whose cups are filled with sorrow, whose homes are filled with care
Misfortune overtakes them, the world gives them a cuff
Or sends them to perdition, those diamonds in the rough

Chorus
The day will soon be over in which to work and win
Many a gem lies hidden beneath the dross of sin
So let us dig and find them, God's power is enough
To polish into beauty, those diamonds in the rough

One day my precious comrade, you too were lost in sin
But others sought your rescue and Jesus took you in
So when you're tried and tempted by the scoffer's keen rebuff
Don't turn away in anger, he's a diamond in the rough

Chorus

So let us keep it burning, the lamp of holy love
To every persecutor point out the way above
The precious light of Jesus was shed for that poor dove
So let us tell him of it, that diamond in the rough

Chorus (last two lines twice)