Lyrics by Indi Riverflow

Low John the slave wouldn’t toe the line
Though they had whips and guns for tools
John had only his lightning quick mind
To make the Master into his fool

His words were golden, his tongue cast silver
Skilled at the art of rebellious deceit
He was a poet and a prankster
Turned to thief just for a bite to eat

{Chorus}
High John the Conqueror, Low John the conjurer
Could convince a bird to sing at the moon
Walk away from a whipping whistling a tune
Or gather dew on the grass in the scorching day
Trick the tyrant into giving his wealth away
Trade his life for a bag of rocks
Joke his way out of jail
They put his body on the auction block
But his soul was not for sale

Born with a destiny to rule his tribe
Seized by force from his rightful seat
It took all he had just to survive
Became a legend they could never defeat

They took him in chains across the sea
Where the boss’s rule was law
All John wanted was to be free to be
But a beast of burden was all they saw

Bought into bondage but he wouldn’t yield
Delighted in every little con
Put to slaving in the cotton field
But no man could ever master High John

{Chorus}

His life on the line, but John didn’t care
Took pleasure wherever it could be found
When he was sent to the shed best beware
By the morning it would burn to the ground

Who dares call it lazy when you’re forced to the job
You grab whatever rest you can get
It isn’t stealing when your freedom was robbed
And everything you take was made by your sweat

{Chorus}

John fell in love with the Devil’s daughter
Evil One made him an impossible bet
To plant and reap a mile square
Before the Sun would set

Lord of Lies meant to betray their deal
So the lovers stole her father’s steeds
Ducking and outfoxing to change what’s real
Clever’s better when you can’t win at speed

Long after he faded into the night
They taught his legacy to young slaves
How to win when you cannot fight
By your wits shall you be saved

John left his mojo behind
Residing in his same-named root
If the Man’s got you down you might find
It helps to spit it in the path of his boot