Now there is a man you'll hear about most anywhere you go
His holdings are in Texas, and his name is Diamond Joe
He carries all his money in a diamond-studded jar
He never was much bother by the process of the law
Yes I hired out to Joe boys, I did offer him my hand
He gave a string of horses so old they could not stand
I swear I like to starve to death, he did mistreat me so
And I never did save a dollar in the pay of Diamond Joe
I swear I never did save a dollar
His bread it was corn dodger and his meat I could not chaw
And he drove me near distracted with that waggin' of his jaw
And the tellin' of his stories, boys, I mean to let you know
That there never was a rounder who could lie like Diamond Joe
Well I tried three times to quit him, boys, but he did argue so
That I'm still punchin' cattle in the pay of Diamond Joe
And when I'm called up yonder and it comes my time to go
Give my blankets to my buddies ooh
give the fleas to Diamond Joe
That's right
Give my blankies to my buddies give the fleas to Diamond Joe