- Version Blind Willie McTell:
Delia was a-gamblin', gamble all around.
She was a gamblin' girl, she laid her money down.
She's all I've got, is [and?] gone.
Delia's dear mother took a trip out West
When she returned little Delia had gone to rest.
She's all I've got, is [and?] gone.
Delia's mother weep, Delia's father moan,
Wouldn't had been so bad if the child died at home.
She's all I've got, is [and?] gone.
Delia, Oh, Delia, how can it be?
Say you love them rounders and don't love me.
She's all I've got and gone.
Curtis in the barroom, drinking up a silver cup
Delia, she's in the graveyard, never come wake up.
She's all I've got and gone.
Rubber tired buggy, double-seated hack,
Taking Delia to the cemetary, but never bring her back.
She's all I've got, is gone.
Delia, oh, Delia, poor girl she's gone.
All I hate she has left me all alone.
She's all I've got, is gone.
Judge said to Curtis "What's the fuss about?"
"All about those gamblers, Judge, tryin' to cut me out."
She's all I've got and gone.
Curtis said to the judge "What might be my fine?"
And I told you "Poor boy, you got ninety-nine."
She's all I've got, is gone.
Up on my housetop, high as I can see,
Looking at those rounders, looking after me.
She's all I've got and gone.
Curtis' looking high, Curtis' looking low,
Shot poor Delia down with a cruel forty-four.
She's all I've got, is gone.
Version Pete Seeger:
("A Bahaman version of an American honky-tonk ballad")
Johnny shot his Delia
On a Christmas night;
First time he shot her
She bowed her head and died
Delia's gone, one more round, etc.
Sent for the doctor
Doctor came too late;
Sent for the minister
To layout Delia straight.
Refrain
Delia, Delia, where you
Been so long?
Everybody's talkin, about
Poor Delia dead and gone.
Refrain
Version Johnny Cash (on "American Recordings"):
Delia, oh, Delia, Delia all my life.
If I hadn't have shot poor Delia, I'd have 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 trifling and she was cold and mean.
Kind of evil, Make me want to grab my submachine.
Delia's gone one more round, Delia's gone.
First time I shot 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 like Delia got done.
Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.
Version Bob Dylan:
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 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 friends I ever had are gone.
Curtis' looking high, Curtis' looking low,
He shot poor Delia down with a cruel forty-four.
All the friends I ever had are gone.
High up on the housetops, 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 way,
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 them 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 jail house, drinking from an old tin cup,
Delia's in the graveyard, she might have never gettin' up.
All the friends I ever had are gone.
Delia, oh Delia, how can it be?
You loved all them rounders, never did love me.
All the friends I ever had are gone.
Delia, oh Delia, how can it be?
You wanted all them rounders, never had time for me.
All the friends I ever had are gone.