Song Lyrics

"My shadow follows me
Wherever I should chance to go",
John the Gun did say.
"If you should chance to meet me
As I wander to and fro,
Sad would be your day.

My life is mine and the light did shine
Till the guns they did go 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]
Put away your guns of steel,
Death comes too soon for all.
Your Master He may need you soon,
And you must heed His call.

"I am the master of the games
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 will I play the game of war,
In moonshine or in sun.
And if any cross the path I choose to tread,
Their chances they are poor.
My name is John the Gun."

[Chorus]

Sandy Denny

The duration of John the Gun [BBC in Concert - Paris Theatre 16/3/72] is 3:15 minutes and seconds.