two versions
first, sung by Louis Armstrong
Pops did you hear the story of Long John Dean?
Not yet drummer
A bold bank robber from Bowling Green
Was sent to the jailhouse last yesterday
But last night he made his getaway
Chorus
And he's long gone, from Kentucky
Yes he's long gone, ain't he lucky
And he's long gone that's what I mean
He's long gone from Bowling Green
Long John stood on the railroad tie
Waiting for that freight train to come by
Freight train come by puffin and a flyin
Shoulda seen Long John grab that blind
Chorus
They caught him in Frisco to seal his fate
At San Quentin they jailed him on evening late
But out on the ocean John did escape
Cos the guards forgot to close the Golden Gate
Chorus
Well they offered a reward to bring him back
Even put bloodhounds on his track
Doggone bloodhounds lost his scent
Now nobody knows where Long John went
Chorus
second version
Johnny Bach and the Moonshiners
Well, the funniest fellow that I ever seen
Was the long lost John from Bowling Green
No hat on his head, no shoes on his feet
He was a beggin' the women for his bread and meat
One woman said, John how much can you eat
Said forty-nine biscuits and a ham of meat
Chorus
And he's long gone, from Kentucky
Yes he's long gone, ain't he lucky
And he's long gone that's what I mean
He's long gone from Bowling Green
Now lost John was sittin' on a railroad track
Waitin' for the freight train to come back
Along come a freight train skippin' and a flyin'
Really missed the cowcatcher but he caught the blind
Chorus
Now lost John walkin' to a woman's house
And he crept right in just as quiet as a mouse
The woman said, John pull up a chair
And I'll send the porter for a bucket of beer
Said, never mind the bucket, never mind the beer
The hound's on my trail and I can't stay here
Chorus
Well, the funniest fellow that I ever seen
Was the long lost John from Bowling Green
His eyes are red and his gums are blue
A mighty hard job to keep the fellow in view
Chorus
Send "Long Gone John From Bowling
first, sung by Louis Armstrong
Pops did you hear the story of Long John Dean?
Not yet drummer
A bold bank robber from Bowling Green
Was sent to the jailhouse last yesterday
But last night he made his getaway
Chorus
And he's long gone, from Kentucky
Yes he's long gone, ain't he lucky
And he's long gone that's what I mean
He's long gone from Bowling Green
Long John stood on the railroad tie
Waiting for that freight train to come by
Freight train come by puffin and a flyin
Shoulda seen Long John grab that blind
Chorus
They caught him in Frisco to seal his fate
At San Quentin they jailed him on evening late
But out on the ocean John did escape
Cos the guards forgot to close the Golden Gate
Chorus
Well they offered a reward to bring him back
Even put bloodhounds on his track
Doggone bloodhounds lost his scent
Now nobody knows where Long John went
Chorus
second version
Johnny Bach and the Moonshiners
Well, the funniest fellow that I ever seen
Was the long lost John from Bowling Green
No hat on his head, no shoes on his feet
He was a beggin' the women for his bread and meat
One woman said, John how much can you eat
Said forty-nine biscuits and a ham of meat
Chorus
And he's long gone, from Kentucky
Yes he's long gone, ain't he lucky
And he's long gone that's what I mean
He's long gone from Bowling Green
Now lost John was sittin' on a railroad track
Waitin' for the freight train to come back
Along come a freight train skippin' and a flyin'
Really missed the cowcatcher but he caught the blind
Chorus
Now lost John walkin' to a woman's house
And he crept right in just as quiet as a mouse
The woman said, John pull up a chair
And I'll send the porter for a bucket of beer
Said, never mind the bucket, never mind the beer
The hound's on my trail and I can't stay here
Chorus
Well, the funniest fellow that I ever seen
Was the long lost John from Bowling Green
His eyes are red and his gums are blue
A mighty hard job to keep the fellow in view
Chorus
Send "Long Gone John From Bowling