Johnny Come Lately
Steve Earle & The Pogues Lyrics

I'm an American, boys, I've come a long way
I hail from the USA, and I've traveled a great distance.

So listen up close, I've got something to say
Pay attention, there's something I need to convey.

Boys, I'm buying this round
I'm paying for everyone's drinks.

Well it took a little while, but we're in this fight
Although it took some time, we're now engaged in this battle.

Ain't going home 'til we've done what's right
We won't return until we've achieved what's just.

We're gonna drink Camden Town dry tonight
We're planning to consume all the alcohol in Camden Town this evening.

If I have to spend my last pound
Even if I have to use all my money.

When I first got to London it was pourin' down rain
Upon my arrival in London, it was raining heavily.

Met a little girl in the field canteen
I encountered a young woman at the soldiers' food hall.

Painted her name on the nose of my plane
I wrote her name on my aircraft's front.

Six more missions, I'm gone
After six additional deployments, I'll be out of here.

Well I asked if I could stay and she said that I might
I requested her permission to remain, and she granted it.

Then the warden came around yelling "shut out the lights"
Suddenly, a guard shouted to extinguish all the lamps.

Death rainin' out of the London night
During the night hours, there was an onslaught of lethal bombs.

We made love 'til dawn
We engaged in sexual activities until sunrise.

But when Johnny come lately comes marching home
However, when a new soldier named "Johnny come lately" returns home.

His chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
Possessing a chest covered in awards and military financing.

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone
Individuals will gather to meet him at the San Antonio train depot.

My P-47 is a pretty good ship
My airplane, a P-47, is a reliable vehicle.

And she took a round comin' cross the Channel last trip
During my previous journey crossing the Channel, it took some damage.

I was thinkin' 'bout my baby and letting her rip
Thinking about my beloved and pushing the plane to its limits.

Always got me through so far
It has never failed me thus far.

Well they can ship me all over this great big world
I can be transported anywhere across this vast globe.

I've never find nothing like my North End girl
I have never found anything comparable to my beloved from the North End.

I'm taking her home with me one day, sir
I'm planning to bring her back home with me soon.

Soon as we win this war
After we've won this conflict.

Now my grandaddy sang this song
My grandfather used to perform this tune.

Told me about London when the Blitz was on
He recounted his memories of London during the Blitz period.

How he married grandma and brought her back home
He described marrying my grandmother and returning with her to his country.

A hero throughout his land
He was viewed as a hero throughout his nation.

Now I'm standing on a runway in San Diego
At present, I'm situated on a San Diego airport tarmac.

A couple Purple Hearts and move a little slow
Receiving a couple of Purple Heart awards and experiencing reduced mobility.

There's nobody here, maybe nobody knows
There doesn't seem to be anyone present, perhaps no one is aware.

About a place called Vietnam
About the country named Vietnam.

When Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
Upon the return of a new soldier named Johnny Come Lately.

With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
Holding multiple medals and military funding.

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone
People will be expecting his arrival at the San Antonio train terminal.

When Johnny comes marching home
When Johnny returns from his military deployment.