Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be - Terry Callier

There was an old man lived over the hill

Oh, Johnny, be gay

There was an old man lived over the hill

If he ain’t moved away, he’s a-livin' there still

Johnny, be gay if you can be

The devil come up to the old man one day

Oh, Johnny, be gay

The devil come up to the old man one day

And he says, «Your old lady I’m takin' away.»

Johnny, be gay if you can be

«Well, take her, please take her with all o' my heart

Oh, yeah, you can have her with all o' my heart

I hope to my soul you two never part.»

Johnny, be gay if you can be

The devil he packed her up on his back

Oh, Johnny, be gay

The devil he packed her up on his back

Straight down the hill he went clickety-clack

Johnny, be gay if you can be

Well, ten little devils said, «Welcome to hell.»

Oh, Johnny, be gay

Yeah, ten little devils said, «Welcome to hell

«Pa, turn up the fire;

we’ll sizzle her well.»

Johnny, be gay if you can be

She caught four little devils out playin' tricks

Oh, Johnny, be gay

She caught four little devils out playin' tricks

She bound 'em up tightly an' beat 'em with sticks

Johnny, be gay if you can be

Well six scared little devils they run down the hall

Oh, Johnny, be gay

Six little devils they run down the hall

Cryin', «Take her back, daddy;

she’s killin' us all.»

Johnny, be gay if you can be

Oh, the devil he flung her up on his back

Oh, Johnny, be gay

The devil he flung her up on his back

Straight out o' hell he come clickety-clack

Johnny, be gay if you can be

She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed

Oh, Johnny, be gay

She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed

An' she picked up a butterknife, went to his head

Johnny, be gay if you can be

The old woman went whistlin' over the hill

Oh, Johnny, be gay

The old woman went whistlin' over the hill

«Devil won’t have me;

I wonder who will?»

Johnny, be gay if you can be

Johnny, be gay if you can be

Johnny, be gay if you can be