His father, a farmer, taught him to play basic blues harp as a youth. He sustained injuries to his eyes at a young age which eventually prevented him from doing farm work himself. In order to earn a living Sonny was now forced to play music. He began playing in Shelby, North Carolina. After his father died he began playing with Piedmont-style guitarist Blind Boy Fuller. When Fuller died, he established a long-standing musical relationship with Brownie McGhee, and the pair recorded numerous tracks together. The duo became well-known, even among white audiences, as they joined the growing folk movement of the 1950s and '60s. This included collaborations with Woody Guthrie and Moses Asch, producing Folkways Records (now Smithsonian/Folkways) classic recordings.
In 1938 Sonny Terry was invited to play at Carnegie Hall for the first From Spirituals To Swing concert and later that year he recorded for the Library of Congress. In 1940 Sonny Terry recorded his first commercial sides.
Despite their fame as "pure" folk artists, in the 1940s, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee fronted a jump band combo with honking saxophone that was variously called Brownie McGhee and his Jook House Rockers or Sonny Terry and his Buckshot Five.
Terry was also in the 1947 original cast of the Broadway musical comedy Finian's Rainbow.
Lost John
Sonny Terry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About old lost John
Lost John was a boy that got loose
From a chain gang down in Louisiana
About sixteen bloodhound, took in after him
Sheriffs, deputies
And everybody else in the county
Lost John outrun the bloodhounds there
All night long, it was long towards mornin'
He looked up to the tree there
And seen the lights from a house
He didn't know whether the people inside
Was friends or were enemies
So he wanted to go up to the house
So, and asked if he could stay there
To get away from the bloodhounds
He was afraid if he did go up there
That the people might set their dogs
Barking at him or shoot him down
With a Winchester riffle
This is the story about lost John
Old lost John ain't lost no more
The song Lost John by Sonny Terry is a traditional story-song that tells the tale of a young man who escaped from a chain gang in Louisiana. Lost John was being chased by sixteen bloodhounds, sheriffs, deputies, and everyone else in the county. The chase goes on all night, but Lost John manages to outrun the bloodhounds and find refuge in a house. However, he is unsure whether the people inside are friends or enemies, so he hesitates to approach them. Lost John is afraid that they will set their dogs on him or shoot him down.
The story is about the fear and desperation of a man who is running for his life. Lost John is a symbol of resistance against unjust systems and oppression. The song highlights the brutal and inhumane conditions of chain gangs in the United States, where prisoners were forced to work in hazardous conditions for long hours without pay. Lost John represents the hope that one day, justice and freedom will prevail over tyranny.
Sonny Terry's rendition of Lost John is a powerful and emotive performance that captures the spirit of the story. Terry's use of his trademark harmonica, along with his soulful vocals, brings the song to life. The simple yet evocative lyrics and the catchy melody make Lost John an enduring classic that resonates with audiences to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna tell you the story
I'm about to recount an event that happened.
About old lost John
This story is about a person known as Lost John.
Lost John was a boy that got loose
Lost John escaped from a chain gang.
From a chain gang down in Louisiana
Lost John escaped from a chain gang located in Louisiana.
About sixteen bloodhound, took in after him
Sixteen bloodhounds chased after Lost John.
Sheriffs, deputies
Law enforcement officers were also after him.
And everybody else in the county
Everyone in the county was aware of Lost John's escape and was looking for him.
Chasin' him all across the swamp
Lost John was being chased throughout the swampy terrain.
Lost John outrun the bloodhounds there
Lost John was able to outrun the bloodhounds in that area.
All night long, it was long towards mornin'
Lost John spent the entire night running.
He looked up to the tree there
Lost John noticed a tree nearby.
And seen the lights from a house
Lost John saw lights coming from a nearby house.
He didn't know whether the people inside
Lost John was unsure if the people inside the house were friendly.
Was friends or were enemies
Lost John didn't know if the people inside the house would be helpful or harmful.
So he wanted to go up to the house
Lost John decided to approach the house.
So, and asked if he could stay there
Lost John wanted to ask the people inside the house if he could stay there for safety.
To get away from the bloodhounds
Lost John was trying to escape from the bloodhounds that were chasing him.
He was afraid if he did go up there
Lost John was worried that going up to the house would put him in danger.
That the people might set their dogs
Lost John was afraid that the people inside might set their dogs on him.
Barking at him or shoot him down
Lost John was worried that the people inside might shoot him with a rifle.
With a Winchester riffle
Lost John was concerned that the people inside might use a Winchester rifle to shoot him.
This is the story about lost John
This is a story about a person named Lost John and his escape from a chain gang.
Old lost John ain't lost no more
In the end, Lost John was able to safely escape from the bloodhounds and authorities.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidam4080
Being the little kids we were back then, my cousin and I used to laugh at the clip Encarta 95 had of this song. It played to demonstrate the harmonica. Now, I hear the skill and still smile at the nostalgia of us back then. We never forgot this song, off a 30 second clip. Glad I found it tonight.
@genevermillion8101
Amen to that. People don't know what treasures they are missing.
@pedropinon2553
Anyone has tabs for this incredible harmonica solo?
@howlinhoward
Hey you could get the tabs and you'd still need to figure out the articulation and vocalizations. Amazing piece.
@Cloroxbleach-lr6ej
There’s a few really good videos on sonny terry harmonica rhythm
@gabbygabaya4109
his soul is still dancing...(maniacal laugh)...
@XeNoSpHaEhRe
thats why i'm here :D
@hugomartin8765
Forever in my heart and always on my mind since Encarta 97
@derekpiotr
ENCARTA
@AgentOrange626
Hell yeah!