Happy Music Monday! America is full of folk heroes. Pecos Bill. Paul Bunyan. Joey Chestnut. But maybe the greatest folk hero of all was a simple man who kept to himself and saved his co-workers. A man named... Big John.
When Jimmy Dean recorded this song, he had no idea that he was opening the door to a man's life. This one novelty song exploded like Ulysses or Seinfeld, and by the end of the ride, we knew so much about John. What happened in that mine wasn't the end. It was the beginning.
Five songs about John? Oh, yes, oh yes. See you on the other side of the link.
The story of John did so well that Jimmy recorded a sequel. It's very different in style and tone but clearly, John's wife is just as powerful as he is. And possibly has magic powers too.
Here we take a little turn as Dottie West gives the Cajun Queen her own voice. It's not too much different as far as plot goes, but it does add some new details to the story. so it's kind of the Mists Of Avalon of the John series. Plus it seems fair to let a woman talk about a woman, right?
Jimmy Dean - Little Bitty Big John
Jimmy Dean's third part turns John into a legacy character who's inherited the power of his parents. Little Bitty Big John grows up well and carries on the family name as a hero! It also favors Dottie West's version over "The Cajun Queen" in the same way "Rocky Balboa" kind of ignores what happened in "Rocky V." Sadly no one ever bothered to do a story about John's grandchildren, but they did attempt a reboot with a cat...
Marvin Rainwater - Tough Top Cat
See? This is what happens in a world with only three TV networks.
Let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. Feel free to post your favorite John songs, or discuss John's origins, or write John fanfic or whatever. See you next week.