Lyr Add: Lost John

Subject: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 09:34 AM

For a song recorded as often as this one, and in so many versions, it's surprising it hasn't been already posted at Mudcat, but I failed to find it here.

Transcribed from the sound file at the The Record Lady's All-Time Country Favorites (Go there and click on "Real Country Page 21".)

LOST JOHN
(As sung by Roy Acuff)

Lost John was just a little bitty boy,
Hopped on a freight in the state of Illinois,
Headed out from Chicago town.
He didn't know he's Alabama bound.
He's gone.

Lost John knew from the whistle he's free,
Ridin' the Pan-American down to New Orleans.
Rode the Big Four as she traveled west.
Hobo's life is what he loved the best.
He's gone.

Lost John sittin' on a railroad tie,
Waitin' for a freight train to come by.
Freight train passed. It didn't stop.
You oughta seen Lost John gettin' on top.
He's gone.

Lost John said just before he died,
Two more roads that he wanted to ride.
Foreman says, "I think I know:
Southern Pacific and the B & O."
He's gone.

Lost John went to a burlesque show.
Started to seat on the very front row.
Girls come out to do their dance.
They carried John home in an ambulance.
He's gone.

[Various versions of this song have been recorded by Rev. Gary Davis, Peg Leg Sam, Woody Guthrie, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Merle Travis, Lonnie Donegan, Doc Watson, the New Lost City Ramblers, Hot Rize, and many others.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 12:25 AM

Lyr. Add: LOST JOHN


Well, the funniest fellow that I ever seen
Was the long lost John from Bowling Green
No hat on his head, no shoes on his feet
He was a beggin' the women for his bread and meat
One woman said, John how much can you eat
Said forty-nine biscuits and a ham of meat
And he was long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green.

Now lost John was sittin' on a railroad track
Waitin' for the freight train to come back
Along come a freight train skippin' and a flyin'
Really missed the cowcatcher but he caught the blind
And he was long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green.

Now lost John walkin' to a woman's house
And he crept right in just as quiet as a mouse
The woman said, John pull up a chair
And I'll send the porter for a bucket of beer
Said, never mind the bucket, never mind the beer
The hound's on my trail and I can't stay here
And he was long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green.

Well, the funniest fellow that I ever seen
Was the long lost John from Bowling Green
His eyes are red and his gums are blue
A mighty hard job to keep the fellow in view
'Cause he's long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green
He's long gone, got to get along
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green.

Notes: Arr. Hank Thompson on Capitol 4649, 1961. I've got sevral versions of Lost John plus info.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 04:00 AM

And this is the version Lonnie Donegan uses (there should be a verse in there about the shoes with heels on the front so "nobody knows which way he's g'wine) but for some reason I haven't got that!)
LOST JOHN
(Trad)

Lost John standin' by the railroad track
Waitin' for the freight train to come back
Freight train come and it didn't stop
Lost John thought he'd have to ride on top
Long long lost John
Long long lost John

Lost John came to the country from the South
Sat there as quiet, as quiet as a mouse
Lost John said, "Be my friend
Be my friend until the end"
Long long lost John
Long long John

Woman say don't have no fear
I'm goin' to the corner to get some beer
Lost John say "Don't buy no beer
Sheriff 's on my trail and he'll soon be here"
Long long lost John
Long long lost John

If anyone asks you who taught you this song
Just say Lonnie Donegan has been and gone
Long long lost John
Long long lost John

And this is the version he did with Van Morrison (not transcribed by me)
LOST JOHN
(Morrison/Donegan version)

Waitin' for the freight train to come back
Freight train came back and never made no stop
Lost John thought he'd have to ride on top
Well he's long, long, long gone (woo-yeah)
And he's long, long, long gone

Yeah, lost John came into the country woman's house
Sat down it was quiet, just as quiet as a mouse
She said, "Now Mister Lost John, be my friend,
Be my friend up until the end."
'Cause he's long, long, long gone (what I'm talkin' 'bout)
Now that he's long, long, long gone

(Yeah came into the country woman's house)
Lost John came into a country woman's house
Sat there as quiet, quiet as a mouse
Said, "Mister Lost John be my friend,
Be my friend until the end."
Well, I'm long, long, long gone
Well, I'm long, long, long gone

Yeah, she said, "Lost John don't you have no fear,
I'm sending for the porter, gonna buy some beer."
He said, "Now woman don't you buy no beer,
The company's on my trail and-a soon be here
'Cause I'm long, long, long gone
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Well he's long, long, long gone

(Make it a pair of shoes instead)
Well they caught Lost John
Put 'em in the pen
Cell break went down
And now he's out again
If anybody asks you
Who sung this song
Tell 'em Lonnie Donegan
Been 'ere and gone
Well he's long, long, long gone (ooone)
Well he's long, long, long gone (one more time)
Well he's long, long, long gone
(He goin', he goin')
Well he's long, long, long gone.
(Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba).




RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 03:38 AM

Here's the "shoes" verse transcribed from one of LD's early recordings of it:

Now Lost John made a pair of shoes of his own
Finest shoes that ever were born
Heels on the front, heels behind
So nobody know which way Lost John g'wine

RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 05:01 AM

nice to be reminded of the greats. I've just dug out my 78 of Lonnie's Lost John and put it on. Brilliant. And well worth 6/8 of my pocket money (I think that's what they cost, it's a long time ago).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 03:48 PM

Tony Donegan sang on "Remembering Lonnie Donegan" in October 2003:

if anybody asks you who wrote the song
tell your mother Lutz´s gang been here and gone

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 06:16 PM

There is also this related thread that is not among those linked at the top of this thread: CLICK HERE.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 18 Feb 05 - 12:17 PM

Thanks, Stewie! Very interesting!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John
From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann
Date: 19 Feb 05 - 02:12 AM

"Cheers, Folks!" from Germany - I´m the Lutz Tony Donegan sang about in his "Lost John" version ;-)