Well, the funiest 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
And he was long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-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
And he was long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green

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
And he was long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green

Well, the funiest 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
'Cause he's long gone, yeah long gone
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green
He's long gone, got to get along
He's a long-long gone from Bowling Green