YouTube has an actual video (from film) of Merle Travis playing and singing LOST JOHN. He also does some fine guitar picking in that video.


LOST JOHN a.k.a. LOST JOHN BOOGIE a.k.a. LONG LOST JOHN FROM BOWLING GREEN
Merle Travis

1. The ugliest feller that I ever seen
Was Long Lost John from Bowlin' Green.
No hat on his head, no shoes on his feet,
Beggin' the women for his bread an' meat.
One woman said, "Johnny, what can you eat?"
He said, "Forty-nine biscuits an' a ham o' meat."

CHORUS: An' he was long gone. He was long gone.
He was long, long gone from Bowlin' Green.
He was long gone. He was long gone.
He was long, long gone from Bowlin' Green.

2. Now Lost John he walked in a woman's house,
Crept right in just quiet as a mouse.
The woman said, "Lost John, take a chair,
And I'll send the porter for a bucket o' beer."
He said, "Never mind the bucket an' never mind the beer.
The hound's on my trail an' I can't stay here.

CHORUS: "Got to get along." He was long gone. (etc.)

3. Now Lost John standin' on a railroad track
Was a-waitin' for a freight train to come back.
Along come a train [whistle] an' a-flyin'.
Missed the cowcatcher but he caught the blind. CHORUS

REPEAT VERSE 1 AND CHORUS.