Cat. #0929 (MFH #489) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 28, 1969
VERSE 1
I went down to ole Joe Clark's
He wasn't at home
Eat up all his ham meat
N' threw away th bone
VERSE 2
I went up on th mounin' top
T' give my horn a blow
Thought I heerd th devil say,
Yonder comes ole Joe
VERSE 3
Fare you well ole Joe Clark
Fare you well I say
Fare you well ole Joe Clark
I hain't got long t' stay
VERSE 4
I went down t' ole Joe Clark
He was eatin' supper
Stumped my toe again th table
N' stuck my nose in th batter
VERSE 5
Ole Joe Clark build a house
Eighteen story high
Every story in that house
Filled with chicken pie
VERSE 7
I went down t' ole Joes's house
He was sick in th bed
Run my finger down his throat
Pulled out a chicken's head
VERSE 8
I went down t' ole Joe Clark
I didn't mean no harm
He picked up his ole shotgun
An' shot me in th arm
VERSE 9
I went down t' ole Joe Clark
But he wasn't in
I set down on a hot brimstone
But I got right up again
VERSE 10
Ole Joe Clark, he's dead an' gone
Hope he's doin' well
He made me wear th ball an' chains
Till my ankles swell
VERSE 11
I went down to old Joe Clark
Ole Joe Clark wasn't at home
I jumped in th bed with ole Joe's wife
An' I broke her tuckin' comb