Sung regularly by Bob Weir with the Grateful Dead from the mid-1970s onwards. He varied the lyrics a little: the main differences are noted below.
If I had my way I would tear this whole building down
Delilah was a woman, she was fine and fair She had good looks - God knows - and coal black hair (note 1) Delilah she gained old Samson's mind When first he saw this woman, she looked so fine (note 2)
Delilah she climbed up on Samson's knee (note 3) Said tell me where your strength lies, if you please Then she spoke so kind, she talked so fair That Samson said, Delilah you cut off my hair You can shave my head, clean as my hand My strength become as natural as any old man
Chorus If I had my way If I had my way If I had my way I would tear this whole building down
You read about Samson, all from his birth (note 4) He was the strongest man ever has lived on earth One day while Samson was walking along Looked down on the ground he saw an old jaw bone Then he stretched out his arm and his chains broke like threads And when he got to move, ten thousand was dead
[chorus]
Now Samson and the lion, they got in attack And Samson he crawled up on the lion's back You read about this lion, he killed a man with his paws Samson got hands up round the lion's jaws He ripped that beast, killed him dead And the bees made honey in the lion's head
[chorus] [chorus] I would tear this whole building down