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19 Oct 02 - 09:34 AM (#806630) Subject: Lyr Add: Lost John From: Jim Dixon 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.] |
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20 Oct 02 - 12:25 AM (#807036) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: GUEST,Richie 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 |
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20 Oct 02 - 04:00 AM (#807090) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: Roger the Skiffler 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 |
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01 Nov 02 - 03:38 AM (#815730) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: Roger the Skiffler 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 |
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01 Nov 02 - 05:01 AM (#815760) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: greg stephens 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). |
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17 Feb 05 - 03:48 PM (#1413257) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: GUEST,Gene 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 |
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17 Feb 05 - 06:16 PM (#1413411) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: Stewie There is also this related thread that is not among those linked at the top of this thread: CLICK HERE. --Stewie. |
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18 Feb 05 - 12:17 PM (#1414044) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: GUEST,Gene Thanks, Stewie! Very interesting!!!!!! |
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19 Feb 05 - 02:12 AM (#1414683) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lost John From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann "Cheers, Folks!" from Germany - I´m the Lutz Tony Donegan sang about in his "Lost John" version ;-) |