DESCRIPTION:
This is based on the 1937 Library of Congress recording made by Charlie Butler when he was convict number 10636, imprisioned for attempted murder at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman Mississippi.

Butler recorded the song again two years later for John Lomax, and the last two verses here (slightly modified) were not recorded by Butler at either session, but rather, appear in the handwritten notes of Ruby Lomax from that second session.

Butler sang the song unaccompanied - I have added the banjo and harmonica.

All of the information above about this song comes from Stephen Wade's excellent 2012 book 'The Beautiful Music All Around Us - Field Recordings and the American Experience" (University of Illinois Press)

These are (approximately) the lyrics that I sing:

DIAMOND JOE
Arranged and adapted by Marc Nerenberg © 8 May 2013

Banjo verse

Went up on the mountain -- give my horn a blow,
Thought I heard my May-belle say, "Yonder come my beau."
-- "Yonder come my beau."

Diamond Joe -- Come and get me (x3)
Diamond Joe.

Ain't gonna work in the country -- neither on Forster's Farm,
Waiting till my May-belle she comes -- she's gonna call me to home.
- She's gonna call me to home.

Diamond Joe -- come and get me (x3)
Diamond Joe.

Ain't gonna tell you no story -- neither would I lie,
Wondering did my May-belle stay -- or did she pass me by.
- Did she pass me by?

Diamond Joe -- Come and get me (x3)
Diamond Joe.

Harmonica verse

Diamond Joe -- Where'd you find him? (x3)
Diamond Joe.

Woman I been loving -- seems she took that train and gone.
I just can't help it captain -- just can't stand it long.
- I just can't stand it long.

Diamond Joe -- Come and get me (x3)
Diamond Joe.

I just can't be contented -- my sweetheart, she done gone.
Now my heart is breaking -- now my song is done.
-- Now my song is done.

Diamond Joe -- Come and get me (x3)
Diamond Joe.

Harmonica verse