Johnny Come Lately
by Steve Earle
from the album Copperhead Road
G C
I'm an American, boys, and I've come a long way
G D
I was born and bred in the USA
Em C G
So listen up close, I've got something to say
D
Boys, I'm buying this round
G C
Well it took a little while, but we're in this fight
G D
And we ain't going home 'til we've done what's right
Em C G
We're gonna drink Camden Town dry tonight
D G
If I have to spend my last pound
G C
When I first got to London it was pourin' down rain
G D
Met a little girl in the field canteen
Em C G
Painted her name on the nose of my plane
D
Six more missions I'm gone
G C
Well I asked if I could stay and she said that I might
G D
Then the warden came around yelling "turn out the lights"
Em C G
Death rainin' down in the London night
D
We made love 'til dawn
(chorus)
C G
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
D
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
Em C G
They'll be waitin' at the station in San Antone
D G
When Johnny comes marching home
G C
My P-47 is a pretty good ship
G D
And she took a round comin' 'cross the channel last trip
Em C G
I was thinkin' 'bout my baby and letting her rip
D
Always got me through so far
G C
Well they can ship me all over this great big world
G D
But I'll never find nothing like my North End girl
Em C G
I'm taking her home with me one day, sir,
D
Soon as we win this war
(chorus)
C G
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
D
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
Em C G
They'll be waitin' at the station in San Antone
D G
When Johnny comes marching home
G C
Now my granddaddy sang me this song
G D
Told me about London when the blitz was on
Em C G
How he married Grandma and brought her back home,
D
A hero throughout his land
G C
Now I'm standin' on a runway in San Diego
G D
A couple purple hearts and I move a little slow
Em C G
There's nobody here, maybe nobody knows
D
About a place called Vietnam
(chorus) x2
C G
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
D
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
Em C G
They'll be waitin' at the station in San Antone
D G
When Johnny comes marching home
