Enjoyed reading all this background stuff. I have the recent version of Lost John Dean by Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin which is a terrific tune. I hope I have transcribed all the words correctly.
AnneMC

LOST JOHN DEAN

1. Did you ever hear the story about Lost John Dean?
Bold bank robber from Bowling Green
Well they put him in the jail house the other day
But late last night he made his get-away

CHORUS: And he's long gone, from Kentucky
Long gone, got away lucky
Well, he's long gone, that's what I mean
He's long gone from Bowling Green

2. Well they offered up a reward for to fetch him back
They even put bloodhounds on his track
Well the gosh-darn bloodhounds lost his scent
Now nobody knows where Lost John went

3. I'll never forget till the day I die
Played the game of love, when a woman held high
It was heads she wins, and tails I lose
She played the ace and I played the deuce

4. Oh, a man went around town with a gun in his hand
Looking everywhere for a gamblin' man
Well you can't play low when the heart's too strong
Cos you never can tell how the cat's gonna jump