DeFord Rides Again

(album: Paint This Town - 2022)

DeFord was a man from Castlewood, Tenn'
Blowed on that harp both night and day
How he wailed on them reeds 'til his lips would bleed
Played 'til the Lord knows when

Just a little baby boy with a silver toy
And the polio striking fire and wind
At four foot nine, just one of his kind
The greatest there ever been

Blow, blow, DeFord, blow
Play that Pan-American
Oh, oh, where did he go?
DeFord Bailey rides again

Arise, gals and gents, for the show to commence
There's a good-nature riot on the air
Little DeFord's on the loose with them Muscle Shoals Blues
Let the Jim Crow South beware

Like the fox chasing game
He was black balled and shamed
Stripped out the silver from his hand
Now, it's welfare lines and a dollar shine
Singing, "Oh, Lord, ain't I a man?"

Blow, blow DeFord, blow
Play that Pan-American
Whoa, oh, where did he go?
DeFord Bailey rides again

Then he played his last note, in The Banner they wrote
"Must have been those Ice Water Blues"
Now, up in Greenwood you'll find a plot, four foot nine
For our city's biggest shame, they whitewashed his name
For that kind of sin, there ain't no excuse

Blow, blow, DeFord, blow
Play that Pan American
Whoa, oh, where did he go?
DeFord Bailey rides again

Blow, blow, DeFord, blow
Playing up in glory land
Whoa, oh, where did he go?
DeFord Bailey rides again
DeFord Bailey rides again
DeFord Bailey rides again