The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5180 Message #3206408
Posted By: Jim Dixon
11-Aug-11 - 10:35 PM
Thread Name: Lyr/Tune Req: Sleepy Eyed John
Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Sleepy Eyed John
The oldest recording I can find of SLEEPY-EYED JOHN is by Ole Rasmussen, made about 1950. You can hear it at YouTube. The only surprise there is that he sings:
"Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets the news."
It reminds me of the old "Irish toast" - "May you be in Heaven twenty years before the devil knows you're dead."