Refrain:
Leader: O the long John
Response: O the long John
Leader: He's a-long gone
Response: He's a-long gone
Leader: Like a turkey through the corn
Response: Like a turkey through the corn
Leader: He's a-long gone
Response: He's a-long gone
Verse 1:
Well my John said
In the ten chap ten
"If a man die
He will live again"
Well they crucified Jesus
And they nailed him to the cross
Sister Mary cried
"My child is lost!"
Refrain:
O long John
He's long gone
He's long gone
In the corn, John
O big eyed John
O John, John
It's a-long John
Verse 2:
Says-uh "Come on gal
And-uh shut that do,' "
Says, "The dogs is comin'
And I've got to go."
Refrain:
It's a-long John
He's long gone
It's-a long John
He's-a long gone
Verse 3:
"Well a-two, three minutes
Let me catch my win';
In-a-two, three minutes
I'm gone again."
Refrain:
It's-a long John
He's-a long gone
He's a long gone
He's a long gone
Verse 4:
Well my John said
Just before he rain
"Well I'm goin' home
See Maryland."
It's-a long John
It's-a long John
With his long clothes on
Like a turkey through the corn
Well, my John said
On the fourth day
Well, to "Tell my rider
That I'm on my way."
Refrain:
It's-a long John
He's long gone
He's-a long gone
It's a long gone
Verse 5:
"Gonna call this summer
Ain't gon' call no mo'
If I call next summer
Be in Baltimore."
Refrain:
He's-a long John
He's long gone
He's long gone
He's long gone
He's long gone
He's long gone
(fade out)