Irene goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I will see you in my dreams.

Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a great notion
To jump in the river and drown

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I will see you in my dreams

Stop your ramblin
Stop your gamblin
Stop staying out late at night
Go home to your wife and family
And stay by thr fireside bright

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I will see you in my dreams

Sometimes I live in the counry
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a great notion
To jump in the river and drown

Irene goodnight, Irene Goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I will see you in my dreams

Stop your ramblin
Stop your gamblin
Stop staying out late at night
Go home to your wife and family
And stay by the fireside bright

Oh Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I will see you in my dreams

Il brano è stato composto dal bluesman Huddy William Ledbetter, detto Leadbelly, dopo la sua uscita di prigione nel 1934, e raccolto dal musicologo Alan Lomax. E' registrato anche a nome di quest'ultimo, probabilmente per finanziare le sue instacabili ricerche sul patrimonio popolare americano, che seguivano le analoghe ricerche del padre John sul patrimonio popolare scozzese.

	Monografia Pete Seeger