Sad Saga of Hard-Headed Young John Lyrics
The Temptation of Young John A side
At his typewriter sad Young John he was starin'.
As he did crumple up the page, he did curse.
One dark scowl on his sad face he was wearin' —
In self-pity he his self did immerse.
Dialog came hard to Hard-Headed Young John.
His inaugural novel was draggin'.
His saggin' spirit fell down all in a dump.
One wee voice, deep down inside, it was naggin',
"Take the easy way — don't be a chump!"
That wee voice kept naggin' Hard-Headed Young John.
That shameless Devil, his twinklin' eyes were a-gleamin',
"Clever lad!" he purred, "this here's your big break!"
John did transform to one possess'd, scribblin' demon —
All incisive, all-wise and opaque.
One clever lad was Hard-Headed Young John.
The Temptation of Young John B side
That no-good Devil caught Young John in a rundown.
"Your account," he smirk'd, "you got to pay.
"I will collect your sorry soul come this sundown.
"Sad sod, you done had seed your last day."
"Mother won't like that," clucked Hard-Headed Young John.
"You stinkin' Devil," John did sneer, "you do not read me.
"I got me one hell-a-raisin' here to raise yet.
"You'll get you one tail-a-whippin' if you do not heed me."
That ol' Devil's face sure did get red.
That ol' Devil's face sure did get red.
The Comportment of Young John
He was one pun-slingin', Queek-Draw-in' trickster.
His barb'd tongue would zing its mark with a splat!
Doodling John he would draw words using pictures —
He was one lampoonin', cartoonin' cat.
One little dickens was Hard-Headed Young John.
Phlegmatic John did cock his head and looked oddly.
He'd wrinkle up his long nose with disdain.
He'd tell God-awful, old jokes awful badly.
To awful silence he then would explain.
Folks scratched their heads at Hard-Headed Young John.
His nose would whistle, he'd rear up and guffaw.
John would honk, squeal and roll on the floor.
He'd lay his ears back, give a kick and a hee-haw —
He would laugh 'til his elbows were sore.
He would laugh 'til his elbows were sore.
The Revelation and Subsequent Redemption of Young John
Hard-nosed Young John had awful mighty high standards
That other folks, he did believe, ought to meet.
He'd assess their foolish foibles with candor,
But his own, he ordained, were his fate.
"Just my hard luck," grinned Hard-Headed Young John.
John did buy his self one clerical collar.
The Mail-Order Home Church was his sect.
"This plain cloth did cost me twenty-five dollar —
Now at last I will get some respect."
It was one tight fit on Hard-Headed Young John.
In his hard youth he'd been one amoral creature.
Expedience had been most times his goal.
In two short weeks that heathen John was a preacher.
"Hot damn!" whooped his mom, "Bless my soul!"
"Hot damn!" whooped his mom, "Bless my soul!"
Recordings and Background
- Sad Saga of Hard-Headed Young John: Temptation of Young John A side, recorded Jun 1, 2018
- Sad Saga of Hard-Headed Young John: Temptation of Young John B side, recorded May 23, 2018
- Sad Saga of Hard-Headed Young John: Comportment of Young John, recorded May 12, 2020
- Sad Saga of Hard-Headed Young John: Revelation and Subsequent Redemption of Young John, recorded July 17, 2020
- background