Lost Dog Street Band, "Long John Dean," // GemsOnVHS™

Lost Dog's interpretation of that classic old time song. We travelled up to Kentucky to check out Ben and Ashley's new cabin, hear some songs and chat for a bit. This song has always interested me, connecting such long line to the past. The story has played the centuries long version of telephone, with floating verses dropped in and out depending on the direction of the rendition you're listening to.

One version was recorded by Alan Lomax in his song collecting trips for the Library of Congress Archives. Sung by inmates at the Darrington State Prison farm in Sandy Point, Texas, 1934, it places long gone John as a runaway slave, rather than a bank robber.

It’s a long John,
He’s a long gone,
Like a turkey through the corn,
Through the long corn.

Says-uh: "Come on, gal,
And-uh shut that do',"
Says, "The dogs is comin'
And I’ve got to go."

Chorus:
It’s a long John,
He’s long gone,
It’s a long John,
He’s a long gone.

I guess I did show this one to Ben, out in Wyoming some years ago. I think I was listening to Willie Watson's new album around that time, filled to the brim with great reinterpretations of old time songs. I'd consider that album, Folk Singer volume 1, some of "the" definitive popular modern renditions, great stuff. Word on the road is that Lost Dog may even release a collection of folk songs here soon.

Our undying love and gratitude go to our executive producers for making this project possible: Amy Ennis, Andi Nye, Brady Jones, Christopher Watley, Eric Valente, Irvin Maddox, Johnny Callahan, Josh Collins, Julie Nestoroff, Julio Guerra, Keith McQuillan, Kenny Schmidt, Lisa Galvan, Richard Harmon, VJ Arizpe, and The-One-Who-Cannot-Be-Named.

Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
  / gemsonvhs  

GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
We're on instagram (@gemsonvhs or @anthonysimpkins)
Like us on FB too! (  / gemsonvhs  )
www.gemsonvhs.com