Lyr Req: John Gun (Alex. Laing)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Gun
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 08:05 PM

Once again, thank you Jim.

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN GUN (Alex Laing)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 03:16 PM

From Whistle-Binkie: Or the Piper of the Party, Being a Collection of Songs for the Social Circle, Volume 1 (Glasgow: David Robertson & Co., 1873), page 291:


JOHN GUN.
Alex. Laing.

He's a bauld beggarman, John Gun, John Gun,
He's a bauld beggarman, John Gun;
O far he has been an' muckle he's seen,
An' mony an ill deed he's dune, John Gun,
An' mony an ill deed he's dune.

He's been 'mang the French, John Gun, John Gun,
He's been 'mang the French, John Gun;
But sune he came hame—he made little o' them,
They had vagrants enou' o' their ain, John Gun,
They had vagrants enou' o' their ain.

The fouks a' fear John Gun, John Gun,
The fouks a' fear John Gun;
When he comes in, ye'll hear nae din,
But our breath gaun thick out an' in, John Gun—
But our breath gaun thick out and in.

An' how does he fend? John Gun, John Gun,
An' how does he fend? John Gun—
He fends unco weel, he gets milk, he gets meal—
But no for his guid but his ill, John Gun—
But no for his guid but his ill.

Subject: LYRIC ADD
From: GUEST,999--BINGO
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 03:04 AM

Whistle-Binkie: or, the piper of the party ; being a collection of ... - Google Books Result

Google the above. I found the site with a google of

john gun, beggarman

Please note: the song is on page 291 and 292 and it was written by Alex. Laing

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Gun
From: clint
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 08:00 AM

The McCalmans used to sing it when Derek Moffat was still alive.I never heard anybody else doing it.It's a hard one I know!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Gun
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 09:40 AM

Do you have any other clues? Who sang it, when, where, etc? I haven't found anything at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Gun
From: GUEST,Güno himself
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 07:34 AM

No,that's not the one.sorry!The one I'm looking for starts off:
John Gun's a beggarman John Gun John Gun......
Good luck! Güno

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Gun
From: okthen
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:35 AM

Ooops meant to add "is this the one?"

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: JOHN THE GUN (Sandy Denny)
From: okthen
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:34 AM

Transcribed by Mike Beauvois .

Mike notes: Notice the key change between the verse (Em) and the chorus (Dm). One would normally expect the key change to go up for the chorus. Also note the Bm7 chord - a clever way of leading back into the verse via the dominant.

Em
"My shadow follows me
    G             Em
Wherever I should chance to go",
G       D       Em
John the Gun did say.

"If you should chance to meet me
      G                Em
As I wander to and fro,
G         D       Em
Sad would be your day.

My life was mine and the light did shine
          G                Em
'Til the guns they did go through me,
    G          D         Em
So now I shall never fall.

Ideals of peace are gold which fools have found

Upon the plains of war.
   G       D   Em
I shall destroy them all."

A             Dm
Put away your guns of steel,
       C                  Dm
Death comes too soon for all.
      Bb            F          Eb
Your master he may need you soon,
                      Bb   Bb/Ab Bm7
And you must heed his call.

Violin solo over verse and chorus chords.

    Em
"I am the master of the games
      G               Em
That you will hardly ever play,
    G      D          Em
So I will teach your sons.

And if they should die before the evening
G             Em
Of their span of days,
      G    D    Em
Why, then they will die young".

chorus

    Em
"Condemn me not, for always will I
G                Em
Play the game of war
    G    D   Em
In moonshine or in sun.
                                       G
And if any cross the path I choose to tread,
          Em
Their chances they are poor.
    G       D       Em
My name is John the Gun".

A             Dm
Put away your guns of steel,
       C                  Dm
Death comes too soon for all.
      Bb            F          Eb
Your master he may need you soon,
                      Bb   Em9
And you must heed his call.

|Am / / /| % |G / / /|Am / / /| % |C / G / /|Am ||


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reinhard Zierke, [e-mail]

Subject: Lyr Req: John Gun
From:
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:01 AM

Hi you folkies!I've been looking for the words of"John Gun" for a while now.The McCalmans used to do it.Who can help?Thanx Güno