The Escape of Old John Webb

 

Traditional/Tom Drake

 

‘The Escape of Old John Webb’ is from “Wires from the Bunker”, Appleseed Recordings, 2000, and Wrasse Records, same year.  The songs on the CD were recorded between 1983 and 1985, though.  There´s a live version on “Deep in the Neon – John Stewart Live at McCabe´s”, Homecoming Records, 1991. 

The Kingston Trio recorded the song, too, loong ago, before John joined.  If you want to learn a little more about the background of the song, go to

 

http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/EscapeofOldJohn.htm

 

Nice story.  Don´t invite Billy to your house, he´ll break everything that he comes nigh.  You wouldn´t want that.  Not that difficult to learn – a fun song to play!

 

 

 

Capo 2nd fret

 

(D)    (A) (D)    (D)    (A) (D)  (A) (D)

 

Nine men to guard the (A)British rank

And (D)five to watch the (A)town about,

And (D)two to (A)stand at (D7)either (G)hand,

And (D)one to let Bill (A)Tenor (D)out.    (A) (D)

 

He had eighty weight of(A)Spanish iron

Be(D)tween his neckbone (A)and his knee,

And (D)Billy took (A)Johnny up (D7)under his (G)arm,

And he (D)lugged him away quite (A)manful(D)ly.

 

And Billy broke locks and (A)Billy broke bolts,

And (D)Billy broke all that (A)he came nigh,

Un(D)til he (A)came to the (D7)dungeon (G)door,

And (D)that he broke right (A)manful-(D)aye.

 

(D)      (A) (D)    (D)    (A) (D)  (A) (D)

 

So he stole him a horse and a(A)way did ride,

And (D)ooh, but they rode (A)gallantly,

Un(D)til he (A)came to the (D7)river (G)bank,

To the (D)river running (A)wild and (D)free.

 

The British were coming close (A)on their heels,

And (D)ooh, but they stood (A)fearfully,

'Til (D)Billy took (A)Johnny up(D7)on his (G)back,

And he (D)carried him over it (A)easi(D)ly.

 

And Billy broke locks and (A)Billy broke bolts,

And (D)Billy broke all that (A)he came nigh,

Un(D)til he (A)came to the (D7)dungeon (G)door,

And (D)that he broke right (A)manful-(D)aye.

 

(A)  (D)  (A)   (D) (A) (D7) (G)  (D)  (A) (D)  (A) (D)  (A)

 

So they (D)called at the inn for a (A)room to dance,

And (D)ooh, but they danced (A)merrily.

And the (D)very best (A)dancer a(D7)mong them (G)all

Was (D)old John Webb who was (A)just set (D)free.(HOLD!)

 

© Tom Drake, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller