Diamond Joe (M&A)

Written by 
Trad.
Released on 
Studio outtakes, Soundtracks, etc. 1978–

Recorded and filmed by Bob Dylan w/band for Masked and Anonymous (2003)

Diamond Jo was the name of a steamboat that ran on the upper Mississippi in the period 1864-83, owned by Diamond Jo Reynolds. (He also built his own railroad from Malvern to Hot Springs (Arkansas, I believe), after a painful carriage trip to cure his rheumatism in the healing waters of Hot Springs). The refrain line Diamond Jo come and get me could be a reference to the boat.
Early versions of the song recorded by the Georgia Crackers (1927) and Charlie Butler (1937), then a prisoner at the Parchman prison.
The song is not related to Diamond Joe on Good As I Been To You, neither musically nor thematically.

        F
Diamond Joe come and get me
   C
My wife done quit me
        C                        G
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
        C
Diamond Joe

Gonna buy me a jug of rum,
Gonna give my baby some
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe.

Diamond Joe come and get me
My wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe

[Instrumental verse]

Gonna buy me a jug of whiskey
Gonna make my baby frisky
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe.

Diamond Joe come and get me
My wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe

[Instrumental verse]

Gonna buy me a sack of flour
Cook hoe-cakes by the hour
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe

Diamond Joe come and get me
My wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe

[2 Instrumental verses]

Diamond Joe come and get me
My wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe

Diamond Joe come and get me
My wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me,
Diamond Joe

References:

The Story of Joseph Reynolds: http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/crites/djbio.htm
Riverboats (register): http://members.tripod.com/~Write4801/owners/d.html,
Mudcat entry: http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=1558 (see also the related threads)

Contact

Corrections, additions, questions? Contact me