In 'Folk Songs of North America', Alan Lomax gives yet another variant from Lightning of Darrington prison farm. It shares most lyrics with Greg's posting above, but with a different structure. There is a note, however, that it was 'adapted and arranged by John and Alan Lomax':

LONG JOHN

Says-uh, Come on gal,
An'-uh shut that do'
Says, The dogs is comin'
And I've got to go
Well-a-two, three minutes
Let me catch my win'
In-a two, three minutes
I'm gone agin

Chorus:
It's-a Long John
He's long, gone
Like a turkey through the corn
With his long clothes on
He's gone, gone

Well, my John said,
On the fourth day
Well, to tell my rider
That I'm on my way
Gonna call next summer
Ain't gon' call no mo'
If I call next summer
Be in Baltimore

Chorus

Well, John made
A pair of shoes
Funniest shoes
That ever was seen
Had a heel in front
And a heel behind
Till you couldn't tell where
That boy was gwine

Chorus

Well, my John said
In the ten chap ten
If a man die
He will live again
Well, they crucified Jesus
And they nailed him to the cross
Sister Mary cried,
My child is lost

Source: Alan Lomax 'Folk Songs of North America' Doubleday 1982, p 537.

It was pleasing to see that, in his note to the song, Alan Lomax referred to Long John as being 'another manifestation' of Ol' John, the trickster slave, and the travelin' man. It had occurred to me that, in the black tradition, Lost John must have had some relationship with the travelin' man.

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--Stewie.