Part II

Delia's Gone
Words and Music by
BLAKE ALPHONSO HIGGS (BLIND BLAKE)

1.
Now Delia cursed Tony
'Twas on one Saturday night.
And she cursed him such a wicked curse,
That he swear to take her life.
Delia's gone one more round, Delia's gone.

2.
First time Tony shot Delia
He shot her right in her side.
The second time he shot her,
She gave up the ghost and died.
Delia's gone one more round, Delia's gone.

3.
The reason why Tony shot Delia
Because she cursed him a wicked curse
And if Tony had'nt shot lil Delia,
She might have cursed him worse.
Delia's gone one more round, Delia's gone.

4.
Now Delia's friend is in prison
Drinking out the silver cup
Whilest Delia she lying in the grave
Fighting her level best to get up.

Delia's gone, etc.

5.
On monday Tony was arrested,
On Tuesday his case was tried,
The juryman brought him down guilty,
He began to rollin' his goo-goo eyes.

6.
A rubber tire buggy
A double seated hack
Took little Delia to the graveyard
And they never brought her back.

7.
I went down to the graveyard
Just to look in my Delia's face.
I said, "Delia girl, you know I love you,
But I just couldn't take your place."

8.
"Jailor, Oh Jailor!"
Tony said, "How can I sleep
When all around my bed-side
I can hear little Delia's feet?"

9.
The man that shot my Delia
He was riding on a wheel,
He rode that wheel so mighty fast
They think it was an automobile.

10.
Some give Delia a nickle,
Some give Delia a dime,
I didn't give her one red cent
Because she wasn't a gal of mine.

11.
Sixty-four years in prison
Tony told the judge that isn't no time,
He said my younger brother's in the penitentiary
Servin' nine hundred ninety and nine.

© Copyright 1952 and 1954 Hollis Music, Inc., New York, N.Y.

Patterson, Massie, Heyward, Sammy (eds), Calypso Folk Sing, (NY: Ludlow Music, 1963) pp.26-27
©1963 Ludlow Music, New York, N.Y.
First released on: ART Records, ALP6, 10"LP, AEP6, 2x7"EP gatefold, 1952 (recorded in Nassau.)

(Same as mentioned elsewhere with copyrights, dates &c.)