Chords
F G F G
Big John. Big John.
F G F
Every morning at the mine you could see him arrive.
G F
He stood six-foot-six and weighed two-forty-five.
G F
Kind of broad at the shoulder, and narrow at the hip,
G F G
and everybody knew you didn’t give no lip to Big John.
Em C D G F G
Big John, Big John, Big Bad John. Big John
F G F
Nobody seemed to know where John called home,
G F
he just drifted into town and stayed all alone.
G F
He didn’t say much, a kind a quiet and shy,
G F G
and if you spoke at all, you just said "hi" to Big John.
F G F
Somebody said he came from New Orleans,
G F
where he got in a fight over a Cajun Queen,
G F
and a crashing blow from a huge right hand,
G F G
sent a Louisiana fellow to the promised land. Big John.
Em C D G F G
Big John, Big John, Big Bad John. Big John
F G F
Then came the day at the bottom of the mine,
G F
when a timber cracked and the men started crying.
G F
Miners were praying and hearts beat fast,
G F G
and everybody thought that they'd breathed their last, 'cept John.
F G F
Through the dust and the smoke of this man made hell
G F
walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well,
G F
grabbed a sagging timber and gave out with a groan,
G F G
and like a giant oak tree just stood there alone. Big John.
Em C D G F G
Big John, Big John, Big Bad John. Big John
F G F
And with all of his strength he gave a mighty shove,
G F
then a miner yelled out, “There's a light up above!”
G F
And twenty men scrambled from a would be grave,
G F G
and now there's only one left down there to save Big John.
F G F
With jacks and timbers they started back down,
G F
then came that rumble way down in the ground,
G F
and smoke and gas belched out of that mine,
G F G
everybody knew it was the end of the line for Big John.
Em C D G F G
Big John, Big John, Big Bad John. Big John
F G F
Now they never reopened that worthless pit,
G F
they just placed a marble stand in front of it.
G F G
These few words are written on that stand:
“At the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man. Big John.
Em C D G F G
Big John, Big John, Big Bad John. Big John
F G F G
Big John. Big John….
Send feedback
Tabs by: Eddy
Published: 11 Oct, 2009
Rate tab
Tennessee Ernie Ford top tabs
No data
Video covers
Have a cover of this song?
There are no similar songs for this song.
Comments (0)
Format tab