Lyrics Big Bad John - Patti Page

(Big John, Big John)
Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive
He stood six foot six and weighed 245
And broad at the shoulder, 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 knew where John called home
He 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

Now 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

And through the dust and the smoke of this man-made hell
Walked a giant of a man 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)

Now with all of his strength, he gave a mighty shove
And a miner yelled out there's a light up above
And twenty men scrambled from a would-be grave
And now there's only one left down there to save Big John

Now with jacks and timbers, they started back down
Then came that rumble way down the ground
And smoke and gas belched out of the mine
And 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 were 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)