Dupree's Diamond Blues

When I was just a little young boy
Papa said "Son, you'll never get far
I'll tell you the reason, if you want to know
'Cause child of mine, there isn't really very far to go" (note 1)

Well baby, baby wants a gold diamond ring
Wants it more than almost any old thing
Well when I get those jelly roll blues
Why, I'd go and get anything in this world for you

Down to the jewelry store packing a gun
Says "wrap it up, I think I'll take this one"
"A thousand dollars, please" the jewelry man said
Dupree, he said "I'll pay this one to you off in lead"

Well you know son, you just can't figure
First thing you know, you're gonna pull that trigger
And it's no wonder your reason goes bad
Jelly roll will drive you stone mad

Judge said "Son, it's gonna cost you some time"
Dupree said "Judge, you know that crossed my mind"
Judge said "Fact it's gonna cost you your life"
Dupree, he said "Judge, you know that seems to me to be about right"

Well, baby, baby's gonna lose her sweet man
Dupree came out with a losing hand
Baby's gonna weep it up for a while
Then go out and find another sweet man gonna treat her with style

Judge said "Son, I know your baby well
But that's a secret that I can't never tell"
Dupree said "Judge, well, it's well understood
And you got to admit that sweet, sweet jelly's so good"

Well you know son, you just can't figure
First thing you know, you're gonna pull that trigger
And it's no wonder your reason goes bad
Jelly roll will drive you stone mad

Same old story, and I know it's been told
Some like jelly jelly, some like gold
Many a man's done a terrible thing
Just to get baby a shiny diamond ring

8/28/82     Oregon Country Fairgrounds, Veneta, Oregon
9/11/82     West Palm Beach Auditorium, West Palm Beach, Florida
9/15/82     Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland
9/17/82     Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine
9/18/82     Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
9/20/82     Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
10/9/82     Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford, California
12/30/82    Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California
3/31/83     Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, California
4/12/83     Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, New York
4/17/83     Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
4/19/83     Alfond Arena, Orono, Maine
6/27/83     Poplar Creek Music Theatre, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
8/31/83     Hult Center For The Performing Arts, Eugene, Oregon
9/6/83      Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
10/18/83    Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine
3/31/84     Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael, California
4/16/84     Rochester Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York
4/23/84     New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
5/6/84      Hult Center For The Performing Arts, Eugene, Oregon
6/9/84      Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
6/21/84     Kingswood Music Theatre, Maple, Canada
6/30/84     Indianapolis Sports Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
7/7/84      Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin
7/13/84     Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California
10/5/84     Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina
10/14/84    Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
10/27/84    Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, California
12/28/84    San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
2/19/85     Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
3/12/85     Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, California
3/21/85     Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia
3/31/85     Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine
4/6/85      The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6/15/85     Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California
7/1/85      Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland
7/13/85     Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California
8/31/85     Manor Downs, Manor, Texas
9/7/85      Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
9/15/85     DeVore Stadium, Chula Vista, California
10/26/85    USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida
11/2/85     Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia
11/16/85    Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California
11/22/85    Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
12/31/85    Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
2/11/86     Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
3/21/86     Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia
3/30/86     Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island
7/4/86      Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
4/2/87      The Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts
7/8/87      Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, Virginia
11/7/87     Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
9/12/88     The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9/23/88     Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
10/21/88    Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas
4/5/89      Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
3/26/90     Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York
10/13/94    Madison Square Garden, New York, New York