13. Dink's Song

traditional

Guitar, Vocal - Robin
Bass - Barry Weisenfeld
Harmonica - Richard Sleigh

John Lomax recorded a woman known as “Dink” singing this tune in 1908 as she washed clothes for her man working in a levee camp. A year later, when he went back to re-record her, she wasn't anywhere to be found. The townspeople pointed him towards the cemetary telling him that’s where Dink was now living. I learned this from the Smithsonian Recording and set it to music. Some of the verses float to other blues songs such as "Woman's Blues".

Dink's Song

If I had wings like Norah's dove
You know I'd fly across the river to the man I love
Fare thee well, oh my honey, fare thee well

Got me a man, ooh he’s long and he’s tall
and he moves his body like a cannonball
Fare thee well oh my honey, fare thee well

One of these nights, it was a drizzling rain
Round my heart I felt a pain,
Fare thee well oh my honey, fare thee well

If I had listened to what my mama said
Well, you know I’d be home now, back in my momma’s bed
Fare thee well oh my honey, fare thee well

One of these days, yeah and it won’t be long
you’re gonna call my name, baby I’ll be gone
Fare thee well oh my honey, fare thee well

Just as sure as the birds are flying high above
Life ain’t worth living if you ain’t with the man you love
Fare thee well oh my honey, fare thee well

If I had wings like Norah’s dove
I’d fly across the river to the man I love
Fare thee well oh my honey
fare thee well oh my sugar
Fare thee well oh my honey, fare thee well