Need name for a song

Subject: Need name for a song
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 02:36 PM

I know the words to this song but have no idea of its name. It starts:

I'll sing you a song
it won't take long,
About an old man who never done wrong.
How he died, no one could say,
They found him dead
On the street one day.

Possibly a Dave Van Ronk song?

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Need name for a song
From: Mark Ross
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 03:51 PM

I can't remembe the title but I think it's a Dylan song.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Need name for a song
From: Mark Ross
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:50 PM

It's to the tune of THE YOUNG MAN WHO WOULDN'T HOE CORN, which the Almanac singers used for THE STRANGE DEATH OF JOHN DOE.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Need name for a song
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 11:10 PM

That is the same tune Mark now if we can just get the name of the variation. Never heard the other song until today. Thanks for the information. The full song as I remember goes as follows.

I'll sing you a song
it won't take long,
About an old man who never done wrong.
How he died, no one could say,
They found him dead
On the street one day.

Crowd gathered round
one fine morn,
A man who's clothes,
shoes were torn
As he on the sidewalk lay
They came they stared they went their way.

Policeman man come,looked around
Get up old man I'm taking you down.
Jabbed him with his billy club
The old man fell off the curb.

Jabbed him again, aloud he said,
"Call the wagon this man is dead"
The wagon came and loaded him in,
I never saw the old man again.

Sang him a song, it wasn't very long,
About an old man who never done wrong.
How he died no one can say,
Found him dead on the street one day.

Cap't Bob