Papa Charlie Jackson - Long Gone Lost John lyrics

Lost John settin' on the railroad track Waitin' for the freight train to come back The freight train come back and didn't make no stop Lost John thought he had to ride the top Along come a Dixie Flyer, just behind time He missed the cow-catcher and he caught the blind Now he's long, long gone Lost John came by a country woman's house He crept just as quiet, quiet as a mouse She said to Mr. Lost John, "Be my friend Be my friend, compel thee in Now, Mr. Lost John, have no fear I'll send for the porter and I'll buy us some beer" "Never mind, woman, don't you buy no beer The hounds is on my trail and I can't stay here" John jumped up, run to the top of the hill, says "The hounds ain't caught me, and they never will Now I'm long, long gone" Now the funniest thing I ever have seen Lost John comin' through the Bowldin' Green Stone bare-footed, no shoes on his feet Beggin' everybody for their bread and meat Now he's-a long, long gone Lost John made a pair of shoes of his own Just the goodest shoes that was ever were worn Had heels in the front, and heels behind You couldn't tell which-a-way Lost John's gwine Now he's long, long gone He was standing on the corner, talkin' to his brown He doubled up his fist and knocked the police down The police jumped up, said, "Which-a-way did he go?" The last time I seen 'im, he was runnin' the Gulf of Mexico Now he's long, long gone They took old Lost John, they put him in the pen Now the son-of-a-gun he's out, and he's gone again Now he's-a long, long gone Now, if anybody should ask you who composed this song Tell 'em Papa Charlie Jackson and Ida Long Now we long, we long gone Spoken: That's all