Lost John

The ugliest feller that I ever seen
Was Long Lost John from Bowlin' Green
No hat on his head, no shoes on his feet
Beggin' the women for his bread an' meat
One woman said, "Johnny, what can you eat?"
He said, "Forty-nine biscuits an' a ham o' meat"

An' he was long gone. He was long gone
He was long, long gone from Bowlin' Green
Now get along John, get along boy

Now Lost John standin' on a railroad track
A-waitin' for a freight train to come back
Along come a train skippin' an' a-flyin'
Missed the cowcatcher but he caught the blind

He was long gone
He was long, long gone from Bowlin' Green

Now Lost John he walked in a woman's house
Crept right in just quiet as a mouse
The woman said, "Lost John, take a chair
And I'll send the porter for a bucket o' beer"
He said, "Never mind the bucket an' never mind the beer
The hound's on my trail an' I can't stay here

Got to get along
I'm long gone. I'm long gone from Bowlin' Green

The ugliest feller that I ever seen
Was Long Lost John from Bowlin' Green
His eyes was red, his gum was blue
Lotta mercy keep that fella in view

He's long gone
He's long, long gone from Bowlin' Green