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Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig

03 Jan 99 - 05:50 PM (#51863)
Subject: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig/Art Thieme
From: Don Meixner

Hi Art,

Some years back when you were hosting The Old Towne School of Folk Music on NPR I heard Jim Craig perform. Well, actually he was on a different show that followed you in my area but thats the perspective of time that I have. Anyway, Jim did a song called Joshua Johnson that I recall to this day. If you know, Is it recorded, what is Jim Craig up to, does he still perform, and if you know it, could you post the lyrics?

Lyman and Caroline King send their regards, hope all is well with you.

Don Meixner

03 Jan 99 - 11:05 PM (#51880)
Subject: RE: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig
From: Art Thieme

Howdy Don,

I knew your name sounded familiar; fun days those doing the radio show.

Jim Craig is a grand singer and a good friend. I always thought he had the best VOICE to come out of the Chicago scene. Jim is doing well. He owns HOGEYE MUSIC in Evanston, Illinois---a great music store with a real good folk attitude. He sings but NOT ENOUGH. (The store was started by Anne Hills and her then husband, Jan Burda.) On Sunday, Jan. 24th--NINETEEN & 99--Hogeye is having a huge 20th anniversary celebration at a club called Martyr's (3855 N. Lincoln Ave.--Chicago 773-404--9494) On the show will be Jim & Vivian Craig, Anne Hills, Kat Eggleston, Tyler Wilson & Dave Prine, Jan Burda, Tom Dundee, David Bragman, Ed Holstein, Fred Campeau, and many guests. I sure do wanna try to be there & I'm sure the snow we just got will be moved out by then. Should be a huge musical love-in!

I do have "JOSHUA JOHNSON" on a tape in a box somewhere. If I can find it, I'll post it. Might be a while though.

In the meantime, keep looking for it...

Art

05 Jan 99 - 12:40 AM (#52010)
Subject: RE: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig
From: Art Thieme

here 'tis...

JOSHUA JOHNSON
by Jim Craig

Old Joshua Johnson--I heard him in the shed
Poundin' out the hot steel, "I like it," he said."
But I feel" he told us, "that I'm just half a man
Without my forge & anvil and my hammer in my hand."

Old Joshua, he was self employed,
He lived right here for 60 years in Sutton, Illinois.
I remember looking in on my way to school
To see the sparks a-fling up around that busy fool.

On a muggy day in a summer storm,
A whole gang of us gathered down at Joshua's door,
And Mr. Jones, the grocer, spoke for all the group around.
He said, "We've come to ask you, blacksmith, to be the mayor of our town."

Old Joshua Johnson, respected by his friends
Was offered up this honor by a hundred of them.
"But I feel," he told us, "that I'm just half a man
Without my forge and anvil and my hammer in my hand."

Well, that man of iron, he was humble indeed
But after much encouragement he finally agreed.
Young Bill Doyle, the tinker, took over Joshua's shop,
Then Josh moved to the hotel and took a room on top.

There he could be seen through the following weeks
Just holding back the curtains and staring up the street
At the old brown barn where the cadence was gone
And that no-count Billy Doyle could never be found.

Joshua Johnson was sinking inside,
The papers on his desk were nearly 2 feet high.
"But I feel," he told us, "that I'm just half a man
Without my forge and anvil and my hammer in my hand."

I awoke one mrning just before the dawn
To a sledge on steel, that sweet lost familiar sound.
I struck up a light and I lifted up the shade
And the whole town of Sutton was doin' the same.

In the old brown barn he could be seen
Silhouetted in the light where his hammer did ring
And as the day was breaking, a hundred of us cheered
And the singing of that hammer still echoes in my ears.

Joshua Johnson, I heard him in the shed
Pounding out that hot steel, "I like it," he said.
"But I feel," he told us, "that I'm just half a man
Without my forge and anvil and my hammer in my hand."

(There it be; a truly fine song from a wonderful singer and songwriter---Jim Craig)

Art Thieme

05 Jan 99 - 10:06 AM (#52050)
Subject: RE: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig
From: Art Thieme

in the above post, it should read "to see the sparks A-FLYING UP around that..." (not "fling up")

"sheepishly"---Art

05 Jan 99 - 11:50 PM (#52202)
Subject: RE: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig
From: Don Meixner

Thanks Art for the lyric, I would suspect it means little to any but you and I but I greatly appreciate your time.

Don

07 Jan 99 - 09:17 PM (#52669)
Subject: RE: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig
From: Craig

Don,

A new song and lyrics will always be of interest to a mudcatter. Thanks Don and Art it's a great song.

Craig in Vista.

26 Nov 15 - 12:42 AM (#3753631)
Subject: RE: Joshua Johnson/Jim Craig
From: GUEST,Hieronymus Illinensis

Just happened to be Google Mapping looking for something else, and looky what I found. Could the Sutton of the song possibly be this place?