Big Bad John

(Big John Big John)

Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive

He stood six foot six and weighed 2-45

Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip

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 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

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

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 sagging 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

Twenty men screamed 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

The smoke and gas belched out of the mine

Everybody knew it way 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

And 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)