My Name Is John Johanna

歌詞

My name is John Johanna; I came from Buffalo town For nine long years I've traveled this wide, wide world around Through ups and downs and miseries, and some good days I saw But I never knew what misery was 'til I went to Arkansas I went up to the station, the operator to find Told him my situation and where I wanted to ride Said, "Hand me down five dollars, lad; A ticket you shall draw That'll land you safe by railway in the state of Arkansas" I rode up to the station and chanced to meet a friend Alan Catcher was his name although they called him Cain His hair hung down in rat tails below his under-jaw He said he run the best hotel in the state of Arkansas I followed my companion to his respective place Saw pity and starvation was pictured on his face His bread was old corn dodgers; His beef I could not chaw He charged me fifty cents a day in the state of Arkansas I got up that next morning to catch that early train He says, "Don't be in a hurry, lad; I have some land to drain You'll get your fifty cents a day and all that you can chaw You'll find yourself a different lad when you leave old Arkansas" I worked six weeks for the son of a gun; Alan Catcher was his name He stood seven feet two inches, as tall as any crane I got so thin on sassafras tea, I could hide behind a straw You bet I was a different lad when I left old Arkansas Farewell, you old swamp rabbits, also you dodger pills Likewise you walking skeletons, you old sassafras eels If you ever see my face again, I'd hand you down my paw I'd be looking through a telescope from home to Arkansas