Origin: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)

Subject: RE: Origin: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 27 May 15 - 10:50 PM

The 1950 recording by Bahamian Blind Blake (A. Higgs) is itself a cover of a 1940's recording by Snow Smith and his Bahamian Minstrels (Lofthouse Record Co. #119.) The true composer was Bahamian Charles Leonard Lofthouse (Edward B. Marks Music Corporation, New York., 1940)

Subject: Lyr Add: DELIA'S GONE (from Johnny Cash, 1962)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jun 07 - 12:28 AM

According to Allmusic.com and Wikipedia, the version of DELIA'S GONE that Johnny Cash sang was attributed to Karl Silbersdorf and Dick Toops.

Wikipedia also says that JC first recorded DELIA'S GONE for his 1962 album "The Sound of Johnny Cash."

The LP Discography web site makes the same attribution and gives these lyrics and publication details:

DELIA'S GONE
(Karl Silbersdorf - Dick Toops)
« © '59 Bon Bon Music, BMI »

Delia, oh, Delia, Delia, all my life,
If I hadn't have shot poor Delia, I'd've had her for my wife.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

Well, the guilty gets a sentence, but I ain't gonna tell you mine,
'Cause I got a brother in Memphis doin' life or ninety-nine.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

[ guitar ]
Oh, jailer, oh, jailer, Jailer, I can't sleep,
'Cause all around my bedside, I hear the patter of Delia's feet.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

Now you give me my hammer; I'll drag the ball and chain,
And every rock I bust I seem to ring out Delia's name.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone. Oh, Delia.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 25 May 07 - 04:08 PM

Peter T.
I'm sure you meant Spider John. I've never heard him sing this song, but I was a big fan. I've noticed that Martin has come out with a 7-string guitar like the one Spider John used to play, with an octave string added to the G string. They call it the Roger McGuinn model, but it's the same configuration that Spider John used on the Blues, Rags & Hollers and Lots More B., R. & H. records back in the sixties.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 07 - 05:50 PM

Quite a few of the songs recorded on American Recordings are remakes
of some of Johnny's old ones. Mean-Eyed Cat, with lyric changes,
Country Boy, Give My Love To Rose; all written by Cash in the 50's.
Traditional songs such as Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie, Danny Boy,
Sam Hall, and the Streets of Laredo are songs that were recorded by
Johnny long ago, in the 50's and 60's and again on the
American Albums.
This Spider Ray Koerner would have been covering Johnny. A lot of
songs Johnny recorded were recorded numerous times, often with
alternate variations of the words and music; many were also
unreleased until a later date.
So, Spider Ray either got this from Cash, or it was by coincidence
that they would have the same lyrics.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 May 07 - 05:00 PM

These lyrics are hardly original to J. Cash -- Spider Ray Koerner did the same version years ago.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: ADD: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 07 - 04:42 PM

JOHNNY CASH'S ORIGINAL LYRICS:
This is the one from 1993, released on American Recordings in 1994:

DELIA'S GONE
(Johnny Cash Version)

Delia, oh Delia, Delia all my life.
If I hadn't shot poot Delia, I'd a had her for my wife.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

I went up to Memphis, and I met Delia there;
Found her in her parlor, and I tied her to her chair.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

She was low down and triflin', and she was cold and mean.
Kind of evil, make me want to grab my sub-machine.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

First time I shor her, I shot her in the side;
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

But jailer, oh jailer, jailer I can't sleep;
'Cause all around my bedside, I hear the patter of Delia's feet.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

So, if your woman's devilish, you can let her run;
Or you can bring her down and do her like Delia got done.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

(low down and triflin' can be interpreted as another way of saying
you loved all them rounders, but didn't love me; as well as the
other ways he used to describe her.)

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Black Hawk
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 11:49 AM

I learnt similar line but for 'Frankie and Johnny':-

1) Bring out your rubber tyred dog cart,
2) Bring out your pony and trap,
3) Theres ten men going to the graveyard,
4) But only nine are coming back,
5) cos she shot her man,
6) He was doin' her wrong

or:-
3) Shes taking her man to the graveyard,
4) But she aint gonna bring him back

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 11:40 AM

My dad used to sing to St. James Infirmary:

Roll out your rubber tired carriage
Roll out your old tattered hack
There's twelve men goin' to the graveyard
And eleven comin' back.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Goose Gander
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 11:16 AM

"Rubber tired buggy rubber tired hack
They took poor Delia to the graveyard
They ain't gonna bring her back"

Reminds me of a verse usually found in St. James Infirmary . . .

"Sixteen coal black horses
All hitched to a rubber tired hack
Carried seven girls to the graveyard
Only six of them come back."

I'm writing from memory, but I think those are the lines - can't remember the source, though.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: CET
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 05:10 AM

Thanks, all. I have to agree with John O'L that there is an air of unreality to the idea that Johnny Cash had to write new words because he couldn't remember the old ones. It wouldn't have taken him long to get hold of a Blind Blake or Willie McTell album. He was a songwriter, so he wrote new lyrics. He didn't do too shabby a job either. I like the first person narrative. It fits right into the tradition of prisoner's farewell songs. I think the last verse is particularly good:

Jailer, oh jailer
Jailer I can't sleep
'Cause all around my bedside, I hear the patter of Delia's feet
Delia's gone, one more round
Delia's gone

However, some of the older lyrics have a power and sharpness that even J.C. didn't achieve:

Rubber tired buggy rubber tired hack
They took poor Delia to the graveyard
They ain't gonna bring her back

and

Delia, oh Delia, Delia how can it be
You loved all them rounders,
But you never really did love me

Edmund

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 10:01 PM

I've been racking my brains trying to remember where I have a recording of the song (which performer). I can almost hear it. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 09:46 PM

I learned the song from a limited issue record on "Bay Concerts Records" made by Rolf Cahn and Jo Mapes back in the 1950s (they sang it as a duet). The words are quite different, but, give or take a couple of notes, the tune is the same.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 05:18 PM

I buy some of those cheap cds too. Lots of good music, but little info.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: John O'L
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:46 PM

I must say I'm amused by the image of Cash sitting down with pen & paper racking his brains, unable to remmember the words. Didn't think to ask June. Or to get on the phone and ask Willie or Waylon. Or anybody.
He re-wrote it because he wanted to. I think he did a fair job of it, but I like the other better.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:39 PM

Q - I'm sorry, but I've never heard McTell sing this. I learned that version from David Bromberg onwhich he does a bit of talking and says he learned it from McTell.
    I have only one Willie McTell album and, believe it or not, I bought it from the rack in York Super Pharmacy in Port Hope. I've also bought CDs by Big Bill Broonzy, Billie Holiday, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly... from the same place. These don't have many liner notes and they cost about five bucks, but the music is good.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:28 PM

That's Blind Blake (Alphonso Higgs), from the Bahamas. His recording (1950s) was much copied, Dylan and others.

Subject: ADD: Delia's Gone (Acker Bilk version)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 08:28 AM

Because I think this is such an excellent song (both Cash and Bilk versions)I have taken the trouble to transcribe all the words of the Acker Bilk version (credited on the disk to 'Blake')

DELIA'S GONE
(Blind Blake, as recorded by Acker Bilk)

Delia Cursed Tony
It was on one Saturday night,
She cursed him such a wicked curse
That he swore he'd take her life,
Delia Gone, one more round,
Delia Gone.

The first time that Tony shot Delia
He shot her in the side;
The last time he shot poor Delia
She laid right down and died
Delia Gone, one more round,
Delia gone.

Now the reason why Tony shot Delia,
'Cos she cursed him such a wicked curse,
And if Tony hadn't shot poor Delia,
She might have cursed him worse,
Delia gone, one more round,
Delia gone.

On Monday Tony was arrested,
On Tuesday his case was tried,
The jurymen found him guilty
And he began to roll his eyes,
Delia gone, one more round,
Delia gone.

Ninety-nine years? said Tony,
Judge, that ain't no fine,
'Cos I've got a brother down in New Orleans,
With nine hundred and ninety-nine nine,
Delia gone, one more round,
Delia gone.

Now Tony is in prison,
He's drinking from a silver cup,
While Delia's six foot under
Trying her level best to get up,
Delia gone, one more round,
Delia gone.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 08:07 AM

Stop press!

Just looked at the Johnny Cash video. It's definitely the same song, albeit with a slightly different tune and words.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 08:02 AM

I wonder if this is the same song that Acker Bilk used to do, under the title 'Delia Gone'?

Some of it (from memory) went:

Delia cursed Tony,
It was on one Saturday night,
She cursed him such a wicked curse,
He swore he'd take her life,
Delia Gone, one more round,
Delia Gone.

and ended:

Now Tony's in prison
Drinking from a silver cup,
And Delia's six feet under
Trying her level best to get up,
Delia Gone, one more round,
Delia Gone.

The 'one more round' bit certainly seems to fit.

It was, ISTR, on an album called 'The Best Of Barber and Bilk'(may even have been 'Ball, Barber and Bilk').

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Scrump
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 07:27 AM

The tune of JC's version sounds similar to the other versions I've heard, but it may not be a 100% match. The words are different as stated above.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 06:10 PM

Delia shows up on disc 4 of the set of Blind Willie McTell, The Classic Years 1927-1940.
Little Delia is on Atlanta 12-string cd.

Guest Jim, do you know if these are the same? What is the best version available?

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 05:04 PM

Well, that YouTube version fits right with the comments I just posted on the "Communial folk music or individual?" thread. J. Cash had a nice voice & style....I wish he had LEARNED the song and not messed with it.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 03:29 PM

Right, Willie McTell recorded the only verse that gives a reason for his actions:

Deliah, oh Deliah, How could it be?
You loved all those rounders, but you never really did love me,
Deliah's gone...

Johnny's only remorsful verse is:

First time I shot her, I shot her in the side.
Couldn't watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died,
Deliah's gone...

I think the first version I ever heard was by Burl Ives in the late fifties or early sixties.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST,Black Hawk
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 02:44 PM

Johnny Cash recorded three different versions - 2 with same tune, differing verses.

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 08:06 AM

" the original version (Bud & Travis or Kingston Trio or several others)" ???

Surely Blind Willie McTell recorded the song before those guys or is my memory playing tricks?

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: lesblank
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:20 PM

Johnny's version is similar in title and one line of the chorus as compared to the original version (Bud & Travis or Kingston Trio or several others) but the melody is different and the lyrics are definitely Cash !! Both versions are super , however !!

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:18 PM

Delia's Gone Johnny Cash version (posted by Cluin, 26 Aug 04).

Thread 72758: Johnny Cash was not a Republican

Subject: RE: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:00 PM

Youtube: Cash singin' it.

Subject: Delia's Gone (J. Cash version)
From: CET
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:38 PM

I have been listening to Johnny Cash's version of Delia's Gone a lot recently. After some Googling, I discovered that he wrote the lyrics himself because he couldn't remember the traditional words. I'm wondering about the tune he used. His website says "words and music" by Johnny Cash. Johnny's version has some similarities to the tune that Roger McGuinn recorded on his website, but it's definitely not the same. Is the Cash tune really his own? It seems more likely to me that he would remember an old tune, even if he couldn't remember the words.