We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

about

3. DINK’S SONG
This variant of the old song “Careless Love” was collected on a wax cylinder by John Lomax from a woman named Dink on his first foray in field recording at the beginning of the twentieth century, which cylinder broke shortly thereafter. When Lomax went back to try to record the song again, he found that Dink had died since he had last been there. Our knowledge of the song today is, thus, based entirely on the recollections of the few people who had heard that original recording before it was lost forever. My version of the song is somewhat darker than most, largely because I had found some lyrics to be rather indecipherable on the very early Bob Dylan bootleg recording that I first learned it from (where he seemed to be singing Dave Van Ronk’s version of the song). I inadvertently came up with new darker alternative lyrics for those parts. To me, they enlarge upon what I feel is implied in the lyrics that I could make out clearly, so I’ve kept them.

lyrics

3. DINK’S SONG
Traditional – additional lyrics by Marc Nerenberg
If I had wings, like Noah’s dove,
I’d fly up the river, see the one I love. Singin’ …
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well. (repeats each stanza)

Well, I had a man, he was long and tall.
Oo, he could move his body, like a cannon ball. Oh …

Oh, once I wore, my apron low.
I couldn’t keep you away from my door. Sayin …

Well, then my apron, was up my chin.
Why, you pass my doorway, but you never come in. Oo …

Well, now my apron strings, they will not tie.
And I’m standing in my doorway, but you don’t never pass by. Sayin’ …

You’re the fastest man I ever done saw.
Oh, you skipped Missouri all the way to Arkansas. Oo …

Well, now this river - is deep and wide.
And the man I love is on the other side. Sayin …

Yeah, this river - is muddy and wild.
Oh, I could make it bloody with my unbornded child. Sayin …

Oh, the midnight train, don’t mean no harm.
Yeah, the midnight train would bring my honey straight back home. Said …

Well, on that morning, and it won’t be long.
Well, you could come and call my name out, but honey, I’d be gone. Singin’ …

credits

from DELIA'S GONE: Murder Ballads & Other Songs of Love & Death, released July 15, 2019
Traditional, arranged and adapted, with additional lyrics, by Marc Nerenberg

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Marc Nerenberg image

Marc Nerenberg Montreal, Québec

Marc Nerenberg is a veteran Montreal folksinger who plays old time banjo styles and blues harmonica. He has a narrative- centric repertoire, recounting stories in song and wrapping stories around songs. You may “be drawn in by a combination of Marc’s mastery of traditional banjo styles, his idiosyncratic singing, and [his] richly detailed ballads.” (Mike Regenstreif – Folk Roots/Folk Branches 2019) ... more

contact / help

Contact Marc Nerenberg

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Marc Nerenberg, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring interviews with LA music scene pillar Kamasi Washington, and new London-based duo Mrcy.

listen now