John the Gun
by Sandy Denny
From 'The North Star Grassman and the Ravens" (1971)
Capo III (Cm)
(Please note this is not the original arrangement;
I rearranged it to suit the limited skills
of a camp fire player like myself)
Am C Am
My shadow follows me wherever I should chance to go
C G Am
John the Gun did say
Am C Am
If you should chance to meet me, as I wander to and fro
C G Am
Sad will be your day
My life is mine and the light did shine,
till the guns shot right through me
So now I shall never fall
Ideals of peace are gold which fools
have found upon the plains of war
I shall destroy them all
(Chorus)
Dm C
Put away your guns of steel
Dm C
Death comes too soon for all
F C Em
Your master he will need you soon
G Am
And you will heed his call
I am the master of the game
That you will hardly ever play
So I will teach your sons
And if they should die
Before the evening of their span of days
Why, then they will die young
(Chorus)
Condemn me not
For always have I played the game of war
In moonshine or in sun
And if any cross the path I choose to tread
Their chances they are poor
For I am John the Gun
(Chorus)
