Betty An' Dupree - Harry Belafonte
Gather 'round people let me tell you 'bout Dupree
Gather 'round people let me tell you 'bout Dupree
And his woman back in 1903
Betty was her name said she wanted a diamond ring
Betty was her name said she wanted a diamond ring
Dupree told Betty you can have most anything
Just lay down pretty Betty see what tomorrow brings
Said lay down pretty Betty see what tomorrow brings
May bring sunshine it may bring your diamond ring
Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Went for the jewelry but he shot that jewelry man
Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring
Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring
Just to please you pretty Betty
I've done done a wicked thing
Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee
Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee
I'm sorry pretty Betty
But that sheriff is a haunting me
They caught poor Dupree and put him into the jail
Caught poor Dupree put him in the jail
Atlanta prison is where Betty took Dupree his mail
Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Judge told Dupree I'm gonna see
That you don't come back no more
They took him to the scaffold
A black cap upon his face
Took him to the scaffold a black cap upon his face
Now the cold cold ground is
For Dupree's resting place
Betty went to the graveyard singing near
Oh my god to thee
Betty went to the graveyard singing near
Oh my God to thee
Oh mister hangman look what you done done to Dupree
She told the hack-driver to drive his wagon slow
Told the hack-driver drive your dead wagon slow
When you bury my Dupree I ain't gonna see him no more
Sail on Dupree sail on sail on Dupree sail on
Don't mind you sailing but you be gone so long
So long Dupree poor boy so long Dupree poor boy
Don't mind you sailing you'll be gone so long sail on
Dupree poor boy