Delia

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 ol' 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 white
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 ain’t 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