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Johnson

Capo 4th fret


C                                  F
Johnson, I heard tell you wanted a word with me.
C                                 F
Funny thing, I wanted a word with you.
         Dm
Now with my Joe Hopper gone forever, 
    C
The kids and me all helter-skelter.
Dm                  Dm7                  G7
Johnson, we've been wondering what we'll do.

Johnson, you're the one that gave the order.
You're the one that sealed off Number Ten.
Said the fire was set on spreadin'.
You didn't have no choice, you said, and
Johnson, that was that for thirty men.

         Dm
That was my Joe Hopper down that shaft.
C
Wasn't supposed to work that shift.
    Dm
But my Joe reckoned he had the gift of
D7sus4            G7
Seeing a hard job through.


    Dm
The last I seen of Joe, he laughed;
   C
He told me I was to make my claim.
Dm
Ever the worst of fortune came,
     D7sus4           G7
Then I was to come to you.

Johnson, my Joe worked for the company nineteen years.
Back all bent, hands that'd make you cry.
Crippled hands and a worn-out back,
Family freezing in a company shack,
Johnson, that ain't hardly getting by.

Now you tell me, Johnson, that we got to go.
You tell me I can't trade at the company store.
You'd let us stay if it was up to you,
Johnson, one thing you can do,
You can tell these kids they ain't got a home no more.

That was my Joe Hopper down that shaft.
Wasn't supposed to work that shift.
But my Joe reckoned he had the gift of
Seeing a hard job through.

Last I seen of Joe, he laughed;
He told me I was to make my claim.
Ever the worst of fortune came,
Then I was to come to you.

Johnson, I heard tell you wanted a word with me.
Funny thing, I wanted a word with you.
Now with my Joe Hopper gone forever,
The kids and me all helter-skelter.
Johnson, we've been wondering what we'll do.

(Words and music by Tom Paxton, 1983)

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