Origins: Delia / Delia's Gone

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Delia
From: Jon W.
Date: 02 May 00 - 02:05 PM

Stefan Grossman has a book with two versions of this song (guitar tab and lyrics) in it--one from Willie McTell and one from Gary Davis, I believe. I can't find it on his website but I've got it at home and I'll take a look at it and get back later.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Delia
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 May 00 - 06:50 AM

I think the Kingston Trio did this, as well. If they did, and if their version is not the one on the DT, try their website, very good for lyrics to their songs. (Sorry haven't got the URL handy, didn't bookmark it).
RtS (there was a thread on this last year,started by me, querying the attribution to Blind Blake: turned out it was the other Blind Blake- WI Calypsonian, not the ragtime guitarist/blues singer)

Subject: Lyr Add: DELIA
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 May 00 - 05:41 AM

It's all a long time ago but I remember parts of a Jazz version that when something like this:

DELIA

The first time Tony Shot Delia
she cursed him such a wicked curse
And if Tony hadn't shot poor Delia
Well she might have cursed him worse

Delia gone.
One more time,
Delia gone

Well the first time Tony shot Delia
He shot her in the side
And the last time Tony shot Delia
Well she laid right down and died

Delia gone
One more time
Delia gone

Well on Monday Tony was arrested
On Tuesday his case was tried
When the Jury found Tony guilty
Well he hung his head and cried

Delia gone
One more time
Delia gone

(a Couple of verses in here that I cant remember)

Ninety nine years said Tony
Lord that aint no time
'Cos I got a brother down in New Orleans
Doing a hundred and ninety times nine
Delia gone
One more time
Delia gone.
^^
(Then a verse about Delia being 6 feet under pushing up daisies)

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: Delia
From: Gypsy
Date: 02 May 00 - 01:09 AM

Hi there,
This is an old Harry Belafonte tune. I can recall the tune, and some of the words, but they aren't what we have in the digitrad. It's a really slow, plangent tune. Help me, help me pleeeeeze!

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 13 May 99 - 10:56 AM

Oops--don't know how that happened! The Delia's Gone version that Dylan covered (All my Friends have gone) is from Steffan Grossman who, in the 60's combined the McTell version with the Gary Davis Version. Roy Bookbinder recorded MY favorite version of that one!

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Jane Bird
Date: 13 May 99 - 09:36 AM

If we're talking about different versions of this song, Roger Watson has a cracking version on the album "Urban Folk Vol I" (by Urban Folk). I think he says that it was collected somewhere in the Caribean, but I'm not sure. I'll have a look.

Cheers,
Jane

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 13 May 99 - 04:15 AM

Thanks for the extra information, guys. Art, sorry for getting the name wrong: looked it up at home and posted it from work, extra letters entered brain en route!

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Frank OfToledo
Date: 13 May 99 - 02:18 AM

I have one version you might know about Art. Done by Happy Traum. I don't know the date but I'm guessing the late 70's. I have it on a CD reissue on Shanachie. The other version is a live one recorded in 1996 by Harvey Reid singing and playing a 1970 metal body Dobro. The CD is a double live on Woodpecker Records. My ancient ears can still hear Harry Belafonte doing it on an old RCA Victor LP in the lalte 50's........

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 May 99 - 11:21 PM

My absolutely favorite version of "DELIA" is a monumentally complete version done by SPARKY RUCKER. I recommend it highly.

Art

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 May 99 - 11:10 PM

HIGGS---not Higgins---It was definitely Blind Blake Alphonso Higgs, the calypso singer, who did it. I used to have it on an LP along with "Rum & Coconut Water", "The Foolish Frog" (later made famous by Pete Seeger as a segue between chapters of his children's story), "Sloop John B" and many other songs we think of as traditional---and maybe they were/are.

Art

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 11 May 99 - 03:46 AM

To complete my own answer the Bahamian Blind Blake was called Blake Alphonso Higgins. I think I've now killed off my own thread !

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Chet W.
Date: 10 May 99 - 01:54 PM

The version with "all the friends I ever had are gone" was also done very nicely by Bob "Controversial" Dylan on his World Gone Wrong cd. He doesn't say where he got it, except in existential terms.

Chet W.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 10 May 99 - 11:08 AM

It's answer your own question time again! After considerable rummaging in the blues basement of Ray's Jazz Record shop in London, I think it must be the non-blues Blind Blake (the Bahamian folk/calypso singer) who is credited with this and not Arthur (Blind Blake) Phelps. There was a lovely framed poster on sale of Leadbelly's Stella 12-string, but I resisted the temptation to buy it. I managed to smuggle another half-dozen CDs into the house without 'er indoors catching me as well!

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Jon W.
Date: 24 Mar 99 - 12:30 PM

The other version I wrote of above is called "All the friends I have are gone" or something like that and was done by the Rev. Gary Davis (who also did "Hesitation Blues", I suspect earlier than Leadbelly).

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 24 Mar 99 - 05:45 AM

Thanks to all respondents, it was the Kingston Trio lyric site that credited it to Blind Blake, I was surprised and I think we've got a consensus that he didn't record it tho' many others have in various versions.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: j0_77
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 07:06 PM

Yup there is great recording by B Blake - begins Delia (pause) Delia how can it be .... I notice a number of newer recordings change the tune a little :) I prefer the older one. Been trying to get some of them licks fer years. These grate songs are a pleasure to pick and sing - I also like 'Hesitation Blues' by Leadbelly. More great stuff

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: reggie miles
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 06:57 PM

Willie McTell did the song Delia on an album called "Atlanta 12 String", on Atlantic Records. One of my favorite lps. It's now reissued in either cd or cassette form. Reggie Miles

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Jon W.
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 05:36 PM

Are you sure you're not thinking of Blind Willie McTell - he did a song about Delia - I don't know the exact title but I've got it in a book at home. David Bromberg did another version of the song and yet another version is in the same book but I can't remember the performer. If you think it might be McTell instead of Blake I'll look up the discography in the book.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 11:25 AM

As I vaguely recall, there were two Blind Blakes; one a blues singer, and one from BWI.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 10:46 AM

Yes, all the current recordings seem to be by people like Johnny Cash & I couldn't find it in the list of Blind Blake's "Complete" recordings either. Thanks any way!

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From:
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 09:47 AM

I have several versions of this song, from the Gateway Singers in the 50s, Bud & Travis int the 60s, Johnny Cash in the 90s. This is a song where the basic refrain remains, butthe stanzas fit the mood of the performer. Do not, however have Blind Blake's.---John (not jon)

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone
From: Dr John
Date: 22 Mar 99 - 01:32 PM

It's certainly not on Documents complete (?) Blind Blake recordings - 4 CD's.

Subject: Delia's Gone
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 22 Mar 99 - 10:21 AM

I've seen this credited to Blind Blake but haven't got a recording of him singing it & couldn't see one on the All-Music Guide etc. Does anyone know of a currently available recorded version by him?