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 our west
When she returned
                                 little Delia had gone to rest
All the friends I ever had are gone

Delia's Daddy weeped
Delia's Mama moaned
Wouldn't've been so bad
                                         if the poor girl'd 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 .44
All the friends I ever had are gone

High upon 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
Trying 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 Curdy
What's this noise about
All about them rounders, Judge,
                                                     trying 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 jailhouse
Drinking from an old tin cup
Delia's in the graveyard
                                         She might never never get 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 could it be
You wanted all them rounders
                                                 Never had time for me
All the friends I ever had are gone