Getaway John

Dave Guard *

© 1959 by Atzal Music, Inc, New York, NY
All Rights Reserved

 

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Song Specific Liner Notes

Covers by other artists

Song lyrics
Nick Reynolds (vocal, guitar), Bob Shane (vocal, guitar), Dave Guard (vocal (solo), guitar), Buck Wheat (bass) 10-6-00:
        Album: THE KINGSTON TRIO AT LARGE (Original Capitol LP record release) T/ST-1199 - 1959 Album: SCARLET RIBBONS (Capitol LP record re-issue of previously recorded material from THE KINGSTON TRIO AT LARGE) SF-515 - date unknown Album: THE FOLK ERA (Original Capitol LP record reissue of tracks previously available on original Capitol releases) (S)TLC-2180 - 196? Album: KINGSTON TRIO AT LARGE / HERE WE GO AGAIN (Capitol CD re-issue of previously available tracks from THE KINGSTON TRIO and . . . FROM THE HUNGRY I) CDP 7 96749 2 - 1991 -- TRACK TIME (2:35) Album: THE GUARD YEARS (Bear Family Records CD re-issue of previously recorded material) BCD 16160 JK - 1997 -- TRACK TIME: (2:39)
Nick Reynolds (vocal, guitar), Bob Shane (vocal, guitar), John Stewart (vocal, guitar), Dean Riley (bass):
 Album: ONCE UPON A TIME (Original Tetregrammaton LP record release) TD-5101 - 1968 -- TRACK TIME (N/A) Album: GREATEST HITS (Top Ten) (Top Ten CD reissue of previously released tracks from ONCE UPON A TIME) SCD-4803 - date unknown -- TRACK TIME (1:50) Album: AMERICAN TROUBADORS (Classic CD reissue of previously released tracks from ONCE UPON A TIME) PCD-2-1240 - 1989 -- TRACK TIME (2:31) Album: ON STAGE (CD reissue of previously released tracks from ONCE UPON A TIME) 7523 - Date unknown -- TRACK TIME (N/A) Album: GREATEST HITS (Black Tulip) (Black Tulip CD reissue of previously released tracks from ONCE UPON A TIME) Black Tulip 2436712 - Date N/A -- TRACK TIME (2:32) Album: THE KINGSTON TRIO: BEST LIVE (Jimco Records (Japan) CD reissue of previously released tracks from ONCE UPON A TIME) JIM-0035 - 1991 Album: THE KINGSTON TRIO (Life-Time CD reissue of previously released tracks from ONCE UPON A TIME) LT-5079 - Date unknown Album: THE KINGSTON TRIO (Cameo CD compilation of previously available tracks from the Dave Guard, John Stewart & Bob Haworth Eras) Cameo CD 3607 -- 1998 THE STEWART YEARS - expected early in 2000
Song Specific Liner Notes    
ALBUM NOTES  
The Kingston Trio At Large GETAWAY JOHN (Dave Guard) John Hardy, it appears, was an actual man, a rough one, who was sentenced to be hanged for murder in 1894. The Trio has made some harmonic changes from the original.
Other Notes of Interest  
Getaway John by Jack Spittard? NOTE: As with the song "Cory, Cory," "THE KINGSTON TRIO deluxe souvenir vocal album" (c) 1964 by Hansen Publications, lists Jack Spittard as the composer of "Get Away John" while the album liner notes for "The Kingston Trio At Large" (1959) gives credit, in this case, to Dave Guard. It should also be noted that the spelling of the song titles in the Hansen publication differ from those on the Trio's album: "Cory, Cory" (in the Hansen book ) vs "Corey, Corey" (on the Album) and "Get Away John" vs "Getaway John."
Covers by other artists    
Artist's Name ALBUM CATALOG NO.
Leadbelly Members Edition (194?/1996 ) TKO Records UAE 30282

 

Getaway John
Chorus:
Getaway, getaway,
getaway, getaway,
Poor John.

John Hardy was a fightin' man,
carried a razor ev'ry day.
He killed a man in Mobile town
You ought to see my Johnny get away.
Ought to see my Johnny

Chorus

John Hardy was standin' at the bar,
so drunk he could not see.
Along came a man with a warrant in his hand,
Crying, "Johnny boy, why don't you come with me?
Johnny boy, why don't you come with me?"

John Hardy had a pretty little gal,
kept her dressed in blue.
He saw her in the hangin' crowd,
Cryin', "Johnny boy, I'll be true to you.
Johnny boy, I'll be true to you.

True to you.
True to you.
True to you.
Poor, John."

I've been to the East and I've been to the West,
been this whole world 'round.
I've been to the North and I lived in the South.
This will be my buryin' ground.
This will be my buryin' ground.

I've been this wide world over.
Been this whole world 'round.
Been to the river and I've been baptized.
Take me to my buryin' ground.
Getaway, getaway, getaway

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Last revised: March 30, 2006.