John the Balladeer Words and music by Catherine Faber © 1991C F C G Often in the mountains I have heard the people say C F C G C "You needn't fear the dark, my child, since John has passed this way." F C G And when I stop and ask them of this person who is gone, C F C G C They tell another story of the wanderer called John. Chorus (after every verse): C F C G Singing John, Walking John, John who does not fear; C F C G C Silver John, Honest John, John the balladeer. They say he packs an old guitar; he picks it and he sings. That evil fairly flinches from his fabled silver strings. They say he stands up tall and straight, and more than passing fair, But gave his heart up, long ago, to gallant Evadare. They told a tale of magic, in a town that stood alone Of an ugly bird with feet like hands like none of nature's own; This evil man's familiar held the town in fear, I heard, 'Til John, he took its master on, and killed the Ugly Bird. They whisper of a small black train; its whistle's lonesome sound That comes for sinners when they die, to take them where they're bound. If I have heard the tale one time, then I have heard it ten: How John, he sang the black train up, and sang it down again. And every time they finish, and I ask where John did go, They shake their heads and smile at me, and tell me they don't know, And tell their watching children, "There's no need to be afraid, There's nothing in the darkness now, but things the good Lord made." And so I go from place to place, I get by as I can; It seems I always find the tales, but never find the man. I'm always just a day too late; my luck has been the worst; So tell him I am seeking him, if you should meet him first!