Johnny at the Door

Johnny awoke with an ache in his head.

Bad dreams had made him ill.

And he grumbled as he dressed despite his duress

As he made his way to the mill.

Well he never wanted to work that day,

But the foreman had himself clear.

So Johnny dreamed of the eve to come

When he'd drink him beer after beer, singing...

"I'll drink from dusk till dawn

I'll drink a toast to day's end.

Yes, I'll drink from dusk till dawn

And I'll drink to the health of me friends."

It was a cold morning, went straight to his bones

Oh, he wished that he had him some ale.

Just one fine glass of stout Guiness

Would hold him till the end of the trail.

Oh his mouth watered with the thought of ale

By the time he arrived he'd decide

That not even Death could keep him away

From his friends and their favorite dive. They'd sing...

Johnny worked hard all the day

His mind away drinking alone

And he told his friends of the pledge he'd made

And the fantasy that kept him afloat.

"Come hell or high water I'll drink with you

Nothing could keep me away."

When the day came to end, he left with a friend. Together they walked and they sang...

On the road they came to a bridge of rope

And there they met a man

With a scythe in his hand and an evil grin

Twas Old Death who cut Johnny down.

Johnny's friend crossed himself, swore it'was the truth

As he retold the scene to the bar

And they raised a glass to Johnny's last words,

"I'll drink with ye come hell or high water!" He said...

Well the door swung open, a cold wind blew in

And there stood a man unafraid.

He called for a beer. They realized when near

It was Johnny come back from the grave.

He said, "You could keep me away from work.

For there's nothing I live for me there.

But I told you today of the pledge I made

You can't keep a man from his beer! They sang...