—Lew Sully 1896, Red Allen's version
Chorus:
Well I don't nobody, nobody loves me
All they want's my money, they don't care for me
I just want to live single, happy and carefree
I don't love nobody, nobody loves me
One day I went out walking, walking down Johnson street
I met a little old lady, she smiled at me so sweet
Said hello my honey, how are you today
Just as I started to kiss her, these words I heard her say
Lord… Chorus
Next day I went out walking, walking down Johnson street
I met the same little lady, she was dressed up so neat
She smiled at me and said hello, how are you today
Tipped my hat and said hello and journeyed on my way
'Cause… Chorus
More verses:
Went down to Alabama, settled down for life
Met a gal named Dinah, and I chose her for my wife
Told her that I loved her, asked her to be wed
She didn't hesitate a bit and this is what she said, oh!
I was born in Kentucky, lived there all of my life
Thought I'd better be lucky, never had no wife
I once thought I'd get married, I asked a little girl to wed
But when I asked her to marry me, this is what she said
I don't love nobody, nobody loves me
I'm just like a little apple, a hanging on a tree,
Don't nobody want me, I can plainly see
I don't love nobody and nobody loves me! (Woody Guthrie)
Verse:
| I | IV – I | I | II – V |
| I | IV – I | IV – I | V – I |
Bridge on many versions:
| VIm | VIm | III7 | VIm |
| VIm | VIm | III7 | VIm – V |
Variations
Elizabeth Cotton:
I don't love nobody, nobody don't love me
All they want is my money, they got no time for me
Think I will live single, be free all of my life
I don't love nobody, Nobody don't love me
Grandpa Jones:
Well I don't nobody, nobody loves me
You're just after my money, don't care for me
Always I've been single, always I been free
I don't love nobody, nobody loves me
Minor bridge:
Went down to Alabama, settled down for life
Met a gal named Dinah, and I chose her for my wife
Told her that I loved her, asked her to be wed
She didn't hesitate a bit and this is what she said: