Old John Robertson
The Byrds
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Old John Robertson He wore a Stetson hat People everywhere would Laugh behind his back No one cared to take Any time to find out What he was all about Fear kept them out Children laughed and played And didn't know his name They could tell when he Was coming just the same Walking slow with old John's Crippled wife by his side Then she sighed, then she died Magic words from him Entrancing children's ears But they laughed at him When he went to hide his tears All in vain was no game For he'd lost an old friend In the end, in the end Old John Robertson He wore a Stetson hat People everywhere would Laugh behind his back No one cared to take Any time to find out What he was all about Fear kept them out
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Written by: CHRIS HILLMAN, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Creation and Inspiration"Old John Robertson" was written by two members of The Byrds, Chris Hillman and Roger McGuinn. The song was inspired by a retired film director whom Hillman had known during his childhood in California.
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ReleaseIt first appeared as the B-side to their "Lady Friend" single in 1967.
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Album AppearanceThe song was later included on the band's 1968 album "The Notorious Byrd Brothers", albeit in a slightly longer and differently mixed version than the single.
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Character Reference'John Robertson' referred to in the song was a real person, a retired film director and a one-time resident of the Sand Canyon area of California, where Hillman grew up.
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Music StyleMusically, "Old John Robertson" represents the band's innovative blending of psychedelic rock and country music, a fusion that would become more pronounced in their subsequent work.
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LyricsThe songs lyrics reminisce about Robertson’s eccentric behavior and love of orchestrating yearly Christmas pageants in the town. Hillman would later state that the kind and eccentric old gentleman was loved by the local community and that he had also fascinated the young Hillman.
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Extended VersionThe version of "Old John Robertson" that appears on The Notorious Byrd Brothers album is 33 seconds longer than the single release due to an additional verse and extra instrumentation.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by several artists over the years, demonstrating its lasting impact in the music industry.
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Remastered Version"Old John Robertson" was remastered and included in the 1997 "The Byrds" box set, and again in the expanded reissue of "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" in 1997.
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InfluenceThe song helped to pioneer the country rock genre, impacting later artists like The Eagles.
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Cinematic InspirationThe song might reflect a combination of The Byrds' Hollywood location and the rise of independent cinema in the late 1960s – both of which could have influenced their music and lyrics.
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Citation
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"Old John Robertson Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1559944/The+Byrds/Old+John+Robertson>.
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