Delia’s Gone was one of the first singles from Cash’s brilliant “comeback” (no, he hadn’t gone anywhere) album, American Recordings. It was not unusual for Cash to perform a song about killing someone and regretting it later, but what really makes this one stand out is that he delivers the dark lyrics with a certain sly humor that really takes the edge off. One might even forgive the protagonist by the end of the song, as the titular lass is not presented in a sympathetic light. This particular song was written by Karl Silbersdorf and Dick Toops.
And of course the lyrics:
Delia, oh, Delia Delia all my life
If I hadn’t have shot poor
Delia I’d have had her for my wife
Delia’s gone, one more round Delia’s gone
I went up to Memphis
And I met Delia there Found her in her parlor
And I tied to her chair
Delia’s gone, one more round Delia’s gone
She was low down and traveling
And she was cold and mean
Kind of evil make me want to Grab my sub machine
Delia’s gone, one more round Delia’s gone
First time I shot her I shot her in the side
Hard to watch her suffer
But with the second shot she died
Delia’s gone, one more round Delia’s gone
But jailer, oh, jailer Jailer,
I can’t sleep ‘Cause all around my bedside
I hear the patter of Delia’s feet
Delia’s gone, one more round Delia’s gone
So if you woman’s devilish
You can let her run
Or you can bring her down and do her
Like Delia got done
Delia’s gone, one more round Delia’s gone
