Lost John

Merle TravisMerle Travis 

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Merle Travis

Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and Western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon". However, it is his masterful guitar playing and his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky for which he is best known today. "Travis picking", a syncopated style of finger picking, is named after him. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977. more »

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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

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