Once I was a rich man,
A gambler was my game
‘Til I saw her cool beauty
Inside her danced my flame
And I watched till my desire
Was turned from me to her
And she watched till I was blinded
And then she left me there

Give her diamonds for her fingers
And rhinestones for her hair
Give her dresses for her body
But don’t ever give her care
Shell curse you and shell haunt you
And shell do it with a smile
Even when you’re on the long road
And been down it many a mile

I gave her all she needed
I loved her all I could
But she wanted more boys
And I never understood
And the times that I would leave her
I never could decide
Whether I was gone for good then
Or just for one last ride

Give her diamonds for her fingers
And rhinestones for her hair
Give her dresses for her body
But don’t ever give her care
Shell curse you and shell haunt you
and shell do it with a smile

Even when you’re on the long road
And been down it many a mile

—
‘Willie’s Diamond Joe’ appears on Coal Mining Blues, available for purchase here.