Bad Ol' John

Thank you my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell for sharing Mean Mary James and the Contrarys performing Bad Ol' John. which was written by Mary James & her mother Jean James
Mary plays banjo, guitar by her brother, Frank James, and drumming of Mindy Wright

"Contrary to their name, Mean Mary and The Contrarys are all in one accord when it comes to creating original music. The haunting vocals and energetic banjo, guitar, and violin playing of Mary James blend intricately with the expressive guitar work and deep harmonies of brother, Frank James, and the passionate drumming of Mindy Wright. This Nashville based band mixes the power of rock with the raw innocence of folk and bluegrass. Their music is known to be incredibly fast and complex but always musical, always fun, and often kinda sweet.

Mean Mary, international touring singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist, is not really so mean—even Hank Williams Jr. called her a “sweetheart.” But she IS infamous for her alluring story songs, incredible instrumental speed, and rich voice that can travel from deep emotion to sparkling trills.

Mean Mary started out life as a musical prodigy – could read music before she could read words and co-wrote original songs at age five. By age seven she was proficient on the guitar, banjo, and violin, and entertained audiences across the US with her vocal and instrumental skills. Her life has been one long road show interspersed with TV, radio, and film work. She is also a prolific songwriter, book author, and the fun loving star of Nashville TV show, Never-Ending Street."


Bad Ol' John
A man comes along on a breeze and a song
A man called bad ‘ol John,
Some say he’s a saint, some say that he ain’t
some say he’s a cyclone’s spawn
Folks they say to this very day
Don’t cross that son of a gun,
There never was a man any meaner than
Or as bad as bad ol’ John - Bad ol’ John

There never was a course, never seen a horse, Ol’ John could not stick on
There never was a fight he couldn’t put right
Nor a friend he’d go back on
When you try to stand and you need a hand
But there’s nothing to count on
Never was a friend true to the end
Like good ol’, bad ol’ John - Bad ol’ John

Last time I came upon, Bad Ol’ John
He was walking on a Florida beach
A guitar in a sack, a banjo on his back, and an alligator on a leash
I was clingin’ to a raft a shark bit in half
John yells “Mary, I won’t fail ya”
Road his alligator out, grabbed that shark by the snout
And drug it all the way to Australia – Bad Ol’ John

You could cross the seas on a flying trapeze
Or rope the morning sun
But I doubt you’d find any peace of mind
Or a feat ol’ John’s not done
A man comes along on a breeze and a song
A man called bad ol’ John
Some say he’s a saint, some say that he ain’t
He’s just good ol’, bad ol’ John"

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see) SSG David Andrews

Sweet share by Mean Mary, thank you Chief.

Another great share.