Richie

You were interested in Buell Kazee's 'Roll on, John' [Banjo tuning, GDGBD]. Buell said that his 'Roll On, John' 'must have been a perversion of "Roll On, Buddy"' with 'vagrant stanzas' [his term for 'floaters']. Loyal Jones noted that the first and last stanzas of Buell's version 'are related to the teamster trade of hauling a commodity, probably coal, with income dependent on delivered loads'. [From notes in booklet accomanying 'Buell Kazee' JA009.

ROLL ON JOHN

Oh, roll on, John
Don't roll so slow
When the sun goes down
You'll roll no more

Oh, who's been here
Since I've been gone?
It's old Aunt Jennie
With a nightcap on

Oh, I dreamed last night
Oh, Cora Lou was dead
With an apron string
Tied around her head

Oh, roll on, John
And make your time
For I'm broke down
And I can't make mine

Source: transcription in booklet accompanying Buell Kazee 'Buell Kazee' June Appal LP JA009 [1978].

--Stewie.