Big Bad John
Jimmy Dean
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(Big John, big John) Every mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive He stood six-foot-six and weighed two-forty-five Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip And everybody knew ya didn't give no lip to big John (Big John, big John) Big bad John (big John) Nobody seemed to know where John called home He just drifted into town and stayed all alone He didn't say much, kinda quiet and shy And if you spoke at all, you just said hi to Big John Somebody said he came from New Orleans Where he got in a fight over a Cajun Queen And a crashin' blow from a huge right hand Sent a Louisiana fellow to the promised land, big John (Big John, big John) Big bad John (big John) Then came the day at the bottom of the mine When a timber cracked and men started cryin' Miners were prayin' and hearts beat fast And everybody thought that they'd breathed their last, 'cept John Through the dust and the smoke of this man-made hell Walked a giant of a man that the miners knew well Grabbed a saggin' timber, gave out with a groan And like a giant oak tree he just stood there alone, big John (Big John, big John) Big bad John (big John) And with all of his strength he gave a mighty shove Then a miner yelled out "there's a light up above!" And twenty men scrambled from a would-be grave Now there's only one left down there to save, big John With jacks and timbers they started back down Then came that rumble way down in the ground And then smoke and gas belched out of that mine Everybody knew it was the end of the line for big John (Big John, big John) Big bad John (big John) Now, they never reopened that worthless pit They just placed a marble stand in front of it These few words are written on that stand At the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man Big John (Big John, big John) Big bad John (big John) (Big John) big bad John
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Written by: Jimmy Dean
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Song Genre"Big Bad John" is a country song, blending elements of folk storytelling and spoken-word performance.
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Song ReleaseThe song was first released on September 1961.
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Singer's AchievementThe singer, Jimmy Dean, is not just popular for his music but also as a TV host, and for his entrepreneurial venture in creating a sausage company.
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Song InspirationDean stated that he was inspired by the 1956 film "Giant," starring Rock Hudson and James Dean, to write "Big Bad John."
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Unique ElementThe song is unique because it contains only one verse and chorus that are repeated three times, yet it still grabbed audience attention and popularity.
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Chart PerformanceIt reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1961 and went on to win a Grammy.
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Lyrics DescriptionThe song tells the story of a large, mighty coal miner who saves his fellow miners from a mine collapse.
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SequelsDean recorded two sequels to the song named "The Cajun Queen" and "Little Bitty Big John."
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Covers"Big Bad John" has been covered by several other artists, including Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton.
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Commercial UseIt was later used as a commercial for Jimmy Dean's sausage brand.
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Awards"Big Bad John" also earned Jimmy Dean a Grammy for Best Country & Western Recording of 1961.
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Induction into Hall of Fame"Big Bad John" was officially inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
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Cultural ImpactThe song contributed significantly to Jimmy Dean's reputation as a defining figure in the crossover country-pop genre.
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Citation
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"Big Bad John Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8188716/Jimmy+Dean/Big+Bad+John>.
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