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The Ballad of Old John Smith
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christian comedy worship novelty pilcher walt pilcher
Artist picture
I'm retired and living in High Point, NC, with my wife, Carol, an artist. I have been writing songs and music since 2005 and am still learning to play guitar. Many of my songs are Christian contemporary worship songs, and others are pop rock or comedy/novelty pieces. Until I moved to High Point I practiced with an acoustic string band called Bishop's Bridge in Greensboro, NC, that plays mostly Celtic, folk and old time music (Contact Vance Archer at vance_d_archeriii@yahoo.com). The songs on my Band Page were produced in my home studio using PrintMusic and Cubase. I hope you enjoy the result. (Photo: "Can I play too?" Grandson Zain & me on my son Todd's Yamaha, taken in the mid-2000s.)
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic Folk
Charts
#7,917 today Peak #157
#1,780 in subgenre Peak #40
Author
Walt Pilcher
Rights
2007, Walter H. Pilcher
Uploaded
July 31, 2011
Track Files
MP3
MP3 1.3 MB • 64 kbps • 2:51
Lyrics
Ballad of Old John Smith Walt Pilcher Verse 1 All the records were lost in the Flood ‘O Forty- Seven, so He’ll never know now on this side of Heaven, Honest and true the real name he was given, the Man they just call Old John Smith. Verse 2 Well, he can’t hold a job ‘cause he ain’t got a ref’rence, no Documents, Green Card, ID, or a license. Bosses these days got a definite pref’rence for Workers that ain’t called John Smith. Chorus Singin’, Who are you? Who are you? Everyone thinks that your name is just a myth, And you’re fooling nobody but you, Old John Smith. Verse 3 Though the criminal background checks all come up empty, yet Still he’s a man who just can’t get no symp’thy: “Get out of town or you’ll stay here quite lengthy, ‘Cause we’ll lock you up, Old John Smith.” Verse 4 Now when he says his name everybody starts groaning. The obvious alias they’re not condoning. Such a lame name that he should be disowning, to Pick one that’s not “Old John Smith.” Chorus Verse 5 Oh, he must have had parents before the disaster, and Maybe they’re Murphy, O’Shea or Lancaster. Poor John will die with no kin or ancestor, the Man they just call Old John Smith. Chorus (x 2) “Tell me, who…” Coda Fare thee well, Old John Smith, Fare thee well and gone. Fare thee well, Old John Smith. Take your name along. Fare thee well, Old John Smith, Johnny, we hardly knew ye. Poor little Johnny boy, … Didn’t know who you were.
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