The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #32430   Message #221807
Posted By: simon-pierre
02-May-00 - 09:09 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Delia / Delia's Gone
Subject: Lyr Add: DELIA (from Bob Dylan)
Dylan has made something very closed to the version posted by stewie.

DELIA

Delia was a gambling girl, gambled all around,
Delia was a gambling girl, she laid her money down
All the friends I ever had are gone

Delia's dear old mother took a trip out west
When she returned, little Delia gone to rest
All the friends I ever had are gone

Delia's daddy weeped, Delia's momma moaned
Wouldn't have been so bad if the poor girl died at home
All the firends I ever had are gone

Curtis' looking high, Curtis' looking low
He shot poor Delia down with a cruel fourty-four
All the friends I ever had are gone

High up on the housetop, high as I can see
Looking for them rounders, looking out for me
All the friends I ever had are gone

Men in Atlanta, tryin' to pass for white
Delia's in the graveyard, boys, six feet out of sight
All the friends I ever had are gone

Judge says to Curtis, "What's this noise about?»
"All about the rounders, judge, tryin' to cut me out"
All the friends I ever had are gone

Curtis said to the judge, "What might be my fine?"
Judge says, "poor boy, you got ninety-nine"
All the friends I ever had are gone

Curtis' in the jailhouse, drinking' from an old tin cup
Delia's in the graveyard boys, she ain't getting up
All the friends I ever had are gone

Delia, oh Delia, how can it be?
You loved all them rounders, never did loved me
All the friends I ever had are gone

Delia, oh Delia, how could it be?
You wanted all them rounders, never had time for me
All the friends I ever had are gone
^^^

In the booklet of «World gone wrong», Dylan wrote: «Delia is one sad tale - two or more versions mixed into one. The song has no middle range, come whipping around the corner, seems to be about counterfeit loyalty. Delia herself, noo Queen Gertrude, Elizabeth 1 or even Evita Peron, doesn't ride a Harley Davidson across the desert highway, doesn't need a blood change & would never go on a shopping spree. the guy in the courthouse sounds like a pimp in primary colors. he's no interessed in mosque on the temple mount, armageddon or world war 111, doesn't put his face in his knees & weep & wears no dunce hat, makes no apology & is doomed to obscurity. does this song have rectitude? you bet. toleration to the unacceptable leads to the last round up.»

SP