From the recording The Old Man and the C Chord
This is my version of David Bromberg’s version of Blind Willie McTell’s version of the folk song “Delia”. I changed some of the words and wrote a couple of new verses at the end to change the narrative slightly. It was never clear to me who was singing the song, and I always had a nagging suspicion that Delia was somehow getting blamed for her fate at the end of the song. In any case, whoever Delia was, I don’t think she’d mind the poetic license I’ve taken.
Lyrics
Delia was a gambler,
she gambled all around
she was a gambling girl,
she would lay her money down
she’s all I’ve got is gone
Delia’s dear old mamma
took a trip out west
when she returned
little Delia had gone to rest
she’s all I’ve got is gone
Delia’s mamma cried
Delia’s mamma moaned
wouldn’t have been so bad
if that poor girl had died at home
she’s all I’ve got is gone
Curtis looking high
Curtis looking low
shot poor Delia down, good people
with his fateful forty-four
she’s all I’ve got is gone
High up on the housetop
trying to run away from his sins
police and the rounders
all looking out for him
she’s all I’ve got is gone
The judge said to Curtis
What’s this noise about?
It’s all about those rounders, judge
they’re all trying to cut me out
she’s all I’ve got is gone
Curtis said to the judge
what might be my fine?
judge said, poor boy
you got ninety-nine
she’s all I’ve got is gone
call your rubber-tired taxis
and your double-seated hacks
they took poor Delia to the graveyard
and she’s never coming back
she’s all I’ve got is gone
Delia, Delia, how can it be
I’m thinking about those brown eyes
now I ain’t
never gonna see
she’s all I’ve got is gone
Delia, Delia, how can it be
you went down that long road
but I’m coming baby
wait for me
she’s all I’ve got is gone