Big Bad John

Big John, Big John

Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive
He stood six foot six and weighed 245.
Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip
And 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
Just drifted into town and stayed all alone.
He didn't say much, he kinda quiet and shy
And if you spoke at all you just said hi to 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.
Through the dust and the smoke of this man made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well.
Grabbed a saggin' timber and gave out with a groan
And like a giant oak tree he just stood there alone Big John.
Big John, Big John
Big Bad John
Big John
And with all of his strenght he have a mighty shove
Then a miner yelled out there's a light up above.
And twenty men scrambled from a would be grave
Now there's only one left down there to save Big John.
With jacks and timbers they started back down
Then came that rumble way down in the ground.
And the smoke and gas belched out of the mine
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 marbled stand in front of it.
These few words're 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, Big John
Big Bad John