John Martin Songtext
von Ben Weaver

Jon martin came from the country
With the one pair of decent clothes he owned on his back
He was headed into the city
To buy some fabric for his wife
The trip in took about half a day
So he figured upon spending the night
He planned to wake up early the next morning
And start home by dawns light

Jon Martin walked down Clark Street
Looking for a cheap hotel
A young man came walking up to him
He was dirty and worn down
Jon asked the young man
If he could recommend a nearby hotel
The young man told Jon his sister owned a place
A little southeast of where they stood


Jon Martin Followed the young man East on Cermak
The hotel was over on Michigan Ave
After watching Jon pay the man at the desk
The young man followed him to the Elevator door
He explained that he had no place to sleep
And wondered if he could use Jon′s hotel room floor for the night
There was something a little unnerving about the boy
But he seemed to have an honest face

Jon Martin agreed out of pity
Unaware that when he awoke
There would be nothing left in his room
Except the young boys ragged and dirty clothes
Fate seemed to be paper thin
And the Lords will seemed to be Miles Away
An honest face can hide the devils horns
Just as simple as a blind man can get lead down the wrong road

Jon Martin waited naked in his hotel room all day
For the boy with the honest face to come back
Finally Martin put the boys ragged clothes on
And went down to the lobby in attempt to try and explain his plight
When he pulled on those blowed out pants
They hung only a little below his knees
When the doors to the elevator parted
He was taken as an imposter and thrown head long into the street


The newsboys shouted out insults
Woman held tight to their husband's arms
As Jon Martin tore down the streets
Word began to travel that a crazy man was running loose
Detective Spencer started in pursuit
And caught up to Martin on Polk Street
He took Martin to the Harrison Street station
Where he was given the chance to explain his case

Jon Martin was dismissed of any crime
And a philanthropist provided a suit fit for him to wear
Off to the east of Michigan Avenue
The great lake bulged in its dismal black and blue
The young man with an honest face
Sat behind a bar with a full head of booze
Jon Martin headed home to his farm
Holding the fabric he bought for his wife tight under his arm