BIG BAD JOHN

Written and Recorded by Jimmy Dean

Big John, Big John

Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive
He stood sixfoot six and weighed two fortyfive

Kinda broad at the shoulders and narrow at the hip
Everybody knew you didn't give no "lip", to Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

Nobody seemed to know where John called home
He just drifted into town and stayed all alone

He didn't say much, kinda quiet and shy
And if you spoke at all, you just said Hi, to Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

Somebody said he came from New Orleans
Where he got in a fight over a Cajun Queen

And a crashin' blow from a huge right hand
Sent a Louisiana fellow to the promised land, Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

Then came the day at the bottom of the mine
When a timber cracked and men started cryin'

Miners were prayin' and hearts beat fast
And everybody thought that they'd breathed their last, 'cept John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

Through the dust and the smoke of this man made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well

Grabbed a sagging timber and gave out with a groan
And like a giant Oak tree just stood there alone, Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

With all of his strength, he gave a mighty shove
Then a miner yelled out, there's a light up above

And twenty men scrambled from a wouldbe grave
And now there's only one left down there to save, Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

With jacks and timbers they started back down
Then came that rumble way down in the ground

And smoke and gas belched out of that mine
And everybody knew it was the end of the line, for Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

Now they never reopened that worthless pit
They just placed a marble stand in front of it

These few words are written on that stand
At the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man, Big John;

Big John, Big John,
Big Bad John, Big John.

Soft karaoke
Words
Bass
Bass
Guitar
Melody 1
Piano
Strings
Drums

BIG BAD JOHN - Words and Music by Jimmy Dean
Sequenced by Deb Ackley, 07/08/98
deb@who.net
MIDI Haven, http://midihaven.com/midi.html