Lyrics Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be - Terry Callier

Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be

There was an old man lived over the hill
Oh, Johnny, be gay
There was an old man lived over the hill
If he ain’t moved away, he’s a-livin' there still
Johnny, be gay if you can be
The devil come up to the old man one day
Oh, Johnny, be gay
The devil come up to the old man one day
And he says, «Your old lady I’m takin' away.»
Johnny, be gay if you can be
«Well, take her, please take her with all o' my heart
Oh, yeah, you can have her with all o' my heart
I hope to my soul you two never part.»
Johnny, be gay if you can be
The devil he packed her up on his back
Oh, Johnny, be gay
The devil he packed her up on his back
Straight down the hill he went clickety-clack
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Well, ten little devils said, «Welcome to hell.»
Oh, Johnny, be gay
Yeah, ten little devils said, «Welcome to hell
«Pa, turn up the fire;
we’ll sizzle her well.»
Johnny, be gay if you can be
She caught four little devils out playin' tricks
Oh, Johnny, be gay
She caught four little devils out playin' tricks
She bound 'em up tightly an' beat 'em with sticks
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Well six scared little devils they run down the hall
Oh, Johnny, be gay
Six little devils they run down the hall
Cryin', «Take her back, daddy;
she’s killin' us all.»
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Oh, the devil he flung her up on his back
Oh, Johnny, be gay
The devil he flung her up on his back
Straight out o' hell he come clickety-clack
Johnny, be gay if you can be
She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed
Oh, Johnny, be gay
She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed
An' she picked up a butterknife, went to his head
Johnny, be gay if you can be
The old woman went whistlin' over the hill
Oh, Johnny, be gay
The old woman went whistlin' over the hill
«Devil won’t have me;
I wonder who will?»
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Johnny, be gay if you can be