Lead Belly — If It Wasn’t for Dicky

Ooohhhh, oohhhh, switches beated him down And that everyone but Dicky I would change you right now But this old man he had but one cow He would send her to the field to be fed And the way they beat old Jemma dropped dead Ooohhhh, oohhhh, switches beated him down When the old man heard that his cow she was dead Over hedges and ditches and fields he had fled Over hedges and ditches and fields that were ploughed ----- visit to the wife til they came to his cow Ooohhhh, oohhhh, switches beated him down When he first saw Jemma she was in the green grass No --------------------- Jemma so fast She gave her milk freely without any bill But the blood of her life spilled out of her pail Ooohhhh, oohhhh, switches beated him down So now I sit down and eat my dry meal But I have no butter to put in my tea I have no milk to sup with my bread -------------------------- Ooohhhh, oohhhh, switches beated him down If it wasn't for Dicky I would change you right now But this old man he had but one cow He would send her to the field to be fed And the way they beat old Jemma dropped dead Ooohhhh, oohhhh, switches beated him down