Lyrics to Goodnight Irene
Lyrics to the song Goodnight Irene as recorded by Bryan Ferry.
Goodnight Irene
Written by Huddie Ledbetter & John Lomax
I asked your mother for you
She told me that you was too young
I wish to the Lord I'd never seen your face
Or heard your lying tongue
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in the town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump into the river and drown
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
I love Irene God knows I do
love her till the sea run dry
And if Irene turns her back on me
I'm gonna take morphine and die
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
(THIS VERSE OMMITTED FROM THE ORIGINAL VERSION)
Stop ramblin', stop your gamblin'
Stop stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright
Goodnight Irene
Album Track
Bryan Ferry has recorded a version of Ledbelly's Goodnight Irene for his forthcoming album Frantic due for release 15th April 2002.
Bryan recorded this song initially during the 'Taxi' sessions in 1992 but never released it until now.
Thanks to Swedish fan Peter Lindquist for the following information:-
Goodnight Irene: This song by Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) was first recorded 1933 in Angola Prison Camp in Lousiana while Leadbelly was doing time for "assualt with intent to murder". Once out of prison he made his first commercial recording of the song 1935 in New York for the American Record Company. This song has been done by many artist: Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis and more recently Van Morrison to name a few.