before this world (2)

13

diamand Joe
(Trad.)

Well there is a man you'll hear about most anywhere you go
His holdings are in Texas and his name is Diamond Joe
He carries all his money in his diamond-studded jaw
And he never was much bothered by the process of the law

Yes I hired out to Joe boys, I did offer him my hand
He give me a string of horses so old they could not stand
I swear I like to starve to death, he did mistreat me so
And I never did save a dollar in the pay of Diamond Joe
Swear I never did save a dollar

His bread it was corn dodger and his meat I could not chaw
And he drove me night distracted with that wagging of his jaw
The telling of his stories boys, I mean a let you know
That there never was a rounder who could lie like Diamond Joe

Well I tried three times to quit him boys, but he did argue so
That I'm still punching cattle in the pay of Diamond Joe
When I'm called of yonder and it comes my time to go
Give my blankets to my bunddies, oh give the fleas to Diamond Joe.
That's right
Give my blankets to my buddies, give the fleas to Diamond Joe

BONUS TRACKS
This version of my new album, Before This World, includes three bonus tracks whích otherwise might never have seen the light of day. ... "Diamond Joe," were recorded in Nashville with Mark Knopfler and Chuck Ainlay in '99. That was the same session that produced Mark's brilliant "Sailing To Philadelphia" on which he asked me to sing. But that was an afterthought, we had actually gone into the studio to work on some songs for an album of mine, October Road, but for some reason neither of those two songs was ever released. So here they are; rough and row but still three of my favorites I think they make a nice little set...