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Sleepy-Eyed John

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Sleepy-eyed John: Johnny Horton
#54 on BB Hot 100 and #9 Country on COLUMBIA Records in 1960
INTRO:
F C F
#1.
FWell, way down yonder on Candy Creek,
I whittled out a fiddle from a Cwagon seat.
I Ftune my fiddle and I rub my bow..
play a little tune Cwherever I Fgo.
CHORUS:
FSleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.
Sleepy-eyed John better Ctie your shoe.
FSleepy-eyed John, you better Cget your Fbritches on.
FTry to get to Heaven 'fore the Cdevil gets to Fyou.
INTERLUDE:
F C F  F C F
#2.
FWell, sleepy-eyed John he stole a goose.
The goose she clucked but she Ccouldn't get loose.
Said, FJohn to the goose, "If you don't be still,
we'll miss our supper down in CCandyFville."
CHORUS:
FSleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.
Sleepy-eyed John better Ctie your shoe.
FSleepy-eyed John, you better Cget your Fbritches on.
FTry to get to Heaven 'fore the Cdevil gets to Fyou.
INTERLUDE:
F C F  F C F
#3.
FWell, Sleepy-eyed John he had a wooden leg.
The little leg was nothing but a Clittle wooden peg.
With Fone shoe off and one shoe on..he could do the 
double-shuffle til the Ccows come Fhome.
CHORUS:
FSleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.
Sleepy-eyed John better Ctie your shoe.
FSleepy-eyed John, you better Cget your Fbritches on.
FTry to get to Heaven 'fore the Cdevil gets to Fyou.
INTERLUDE:
F C F  F C F
#4.
FNow, I took 20 dollars for to build a fence.
I took my money and I Cain't worked since.
I Fsold my buggy and I sold my plow.
FI wouldn't take a dollar for my Cjourney Fnow.
CHORUS:
FSleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.
Sleepy-eyed John better Ctie your shoe.
FSleepy-eyed John, you better Cget your Fbritches on.
FTry to get to Heaven 'fore the Cdevil gets to Fyou.
INTERLUDE:
F C F  F C F
#5.
FOver the hickory and down the pine..
the racoon left and the Cold hound whined.
FJohn said, 'Sick 'em', and the racoon left.
FThey crossed Green River in a Cminute and a Fhalf.
CHORUS:
FSleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.
Sleepy-eyed John better Ctie your shoe.
FSleepy-eyed John, you better Cget your Fbritches on.
FTry to get to Heaven 'fore the Cdevil gets to Fyou.
OUTRO:
 F   C    F   F   C   F(x2) (Fade)
A sixties smash from Kraziekhat.

All chords in this song (2)

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Sleepy-Eyed John

by Johnny Horton

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Sleepy-eyed John: Johnny Horton

#54 on BB Hot 100 and #9 Country on COLUMBIA Records in 1960

INTRO:

F C F

#1.

Well, way down yonder on Candy Creek,

I whittled out a fiddle from a wagon seat.

I tune my fiddle and I rub my bow..

C F

play a little tune wherever I go.

CHORUS:

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.

Sleepy-eyed John better tie your shoe.

F C F

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on.

F C F

Try to get to Heaven 'fore the devil gets to you.

INTERLUDE:

F C F F C F

#2.

Well, sleepy-eyed John he stole a goose.

The goose she clucked but she couldn't get loose.

Said, John to the goose, "If you don't be still,

C F

we'll miss our supper down in Candyville."

CHORUS:

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.

Sleepy-eyed John better tie your shoe.

F C F

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on.

F C F

Try to get to Heaven 'fore the devil gets to you.

INTERLUDE:

F C F F C F

#3.

Well, Sleepy-eyed John he had a wooden leg.

The little leg was nothing but a little wooden peg.

With one shoe off and one shoe on..he could do the

C F

double-shuffle til the cows come home.

CHORUS:

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.

Sleepy-eyed John better tie your shoe.

F C F

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on.

F C F

Try to get to Heaven 'fore the devil gets to you.

INTERLUDE:

F C F F C F

#4.

Now, I took 20 dollars for to build a fence.

I took my money and I ain't worked since.

I sold my buggy and I sold my plow.

F C F

I wouldn't take a dollar for my journey now.

CHORUS:

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.

Sleepy-eyed John better tie your shoe.

F C F

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on.

F C F

Try to get to Heaven 'fore the devil gets to you.

INTERLUDE:

F C F F C F

#5.

Over the hickory and down the pine..

the racoon left and the old hound whined.

John said, 'Sick 'em', and the racoon left.

F C F

They crossed Green River in a minute and a half.

CHORUS:

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get you're britches on.

Sleepy-eyed John better tie your shoe.

F C F

Sleepy-eyed John, you better get your britches on.

F C F

Try to get to Heaven 'fore the devil gets to you.

OUTRO:

F C F F C F

(x2) (Fade)

A sixties smash from Kraziekhat.

About Sleepy-Eyed John Chords by Johnny Horton

Learn how to play Sleepy-Eyed John by Johnny Horton with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sleepy-Eyed John chords”, “Sleepy-Eyed John guitar chords”, or “Johnny Horton Sleepy-Eyed John chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Sleepy-Eyed John chords and for experienced players who want accurate Sleepy-Eyed John lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, C, A.

FAQ — Sleepy-Eyed John by Johnny Horton

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What key is "Sleepy-Eyed John" in?

The chords for "Sleepy-Eyed John" show the original chord names (including F, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.