Sleepy‐Eyed John Songtext
von Johnny Horton

Well, a way down yonder on the Candy Creek
I whittled out a fiddle from a wagon seat
I tuned my fiddle and I rubbed my bow
Play a little tune wherever I go

Sleepy-eyed John, you better your britches on
Sleepy-eyed John, you better tie your shoe
Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on
Try to get to heaven ′fore the devil gets to you

Well, sleepy-eyed John he stole a goose
The goose she clucked but she couldn't get loose
Said John to the goose, "If you don′t be still
Well miss our supper down in Candy ville"

Sleepy-eyed John, you better your britches on
Sleepy-eyed John, you better tie your shoe
Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on
Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you


Well sleepy-eyed John he had a wooden leg
The wooden leg was nothing but a little wooden peg
With one shoe off and one shoe on
He'll do the double shuffle ′till the cows come home

Sleepy-eyed John, you better your britches on
Sleepy-eyed John, you better tie your shoe
Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on
Try to get to heaven ′fore the devil gets to you

Now I got twenty dollars for to build a fence
I took my money and I ain't worked since
Sold my buggy and I sold my plow
I wouldn′t take a dollar for my journey now

Sleepy-eyed John, you better your britches on
Sleepy-eyed John, you better tie your shoe
Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on
Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you

Well over the hickory and down the pine
The raccoon left and the old hound whined
John said, "Sic ′em" and the raccoon left
They crossed Green River in a minute and a half


Sleepy-eyed John, you better your britches on
Sleepy-eyed John, you better tie your shoe
Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on
Try to get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you