Big John, Big JohnEvery morning at the mine you could see him arriveHe stood six foot six and weighed two forty-fiveKind of broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hipAnd everybody knew you didn't give no lip to Big JohnBig John, Big JohnBig Bad JohnBig JohnNobody seemed to know where John called homeHe just drifted into town and stayed all aloneDidn't say much, kind of quiet and shyBut if he spoke at all he just said hi to Big JohnSomebody said he came from New OrleansWhere he got in a fight over a Cajun queenAnd a crashing blow from a huge right handSent a Louisiana fella to the promised landBig JohnBig JohnBig JohnBig JohnBig Bad JohnBig JohnThen came the day at the bottom of the mineWhen the timber cracked and men started cryingMiners were praying and hearts beat fastEverybody thought that they'd breathed their last except JohnThrough the dust and the smoke of this manMade hellWalked a giant of a manIf the miners knew wellGrabbed a sagging timberGave out with a groanAnd like a giant old treeJust stood there aloneBig JohnBig JohnBig JohnBig Bad JohnBig JohnWith all his strength he gave a mighty shoveThen a miner yelled outThere's a light up aboveAnd twenty men scrambled out of the mineFrom a would-be graveNow there's only one left down there to saveBig JohnWith jacks and timbers they started back downThen came that rumble way down on the groundAnd the smoke and gas belched out of that mineEverybody knew it was the end of the lineFor Big JohnBig JohnBig JohnBig Bad JohnBig JohnNow they never re-opened that worthless pitThey just placed a marble stand in front of itThese few words written on that standAt the bottom of this mineLies a big, big manBig JohnBig JohnBig JohnBig Bad JohnBig JohnBig JohnBig John.