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'd 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's looking high, curtis's looking low
He shot poor delia down with a cruel forty-four
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 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 jailhouse, 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

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