Jimmy Dean Songs - Big Bad John Lyrics

Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John

Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Greatest Hits
Released: 1961

Big Bad John Lyrics

(Big John, big John)
Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive
He stood six foot six and weighed two forty five
Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip
And everybody knew ya didn't give no lip to big John
(Big John, big John) Big Bad John (big John)

Nobody seemed to know 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

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

Through the dust and the smoke of this man-made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well
Grabbed a saggin' timber, 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)

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

With jacks and timbers they started back down
Then came that rumble way down in the ground
And then smoke and gas belched out of that mine
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 marble stand in front of it
These few words are 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, big John) big bad John (big John)

Writer/s: TWITTY, CONWAY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Big Bad John Song Chart

Jimmy Dean wrote this about fellow actor John Mentoe ("Destry Rides Again"), who was 6' 5" tall. According to Dean's roommate (at the time), the song was intended to be a joke.

Floyd Cramer ("Last Date") was hired to play the piano on the recording, but wound up hitting a chunk of steel with a hammer instead. It was Floyd's idea to make the switch.

In the US, this was a monster hit with tremendous crossover appeal. Not only did it top the Hot 100 for five weeks, it was also #1 on the Country chart for two weeks, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for 10 weeks. The next song to reach the top spot on all three charts was "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell in 1975.

Jimmy Dean went on to become famous for his line of sausage products. He also had his own TV series in the '50s and '60s.

The original ending of "At the bottom of this mine lies one hell of a man" was deemed too controversial. (thanks, John - Bowie, MD)

Dean wrote this on a flight from New York to Nashville when he realized he needed another song for his recording session. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

This was the 100th #1 song of the Rock Era, defined by Billboard as beginning in July 1955, when "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets topped the US singles chart.