June 3, 2011 - 12:38 pm
Well gather round you children,
A story I will tell.
About Pretty Boy Johnny Edwards,
Carolina knew him well.
He spoke of two Americas,
He lied between his teeth.
He combed his hair a hundred times,
With nothing underneath.
He built a mansion high,
And deceived his dying wife.
He betrayed his closest ones,
To better his own life.
He reached for the White House,
All seemed within his grasp.
But while taking campaign funds,
A young mistress he did clasp.
So now he’s a defendant,
And looking rather glum.
But tell us Pretty Boy Johnny,
Did you have to be so dumb?
(With apologies to Woody Guthrie, even though he probably would have voted for Edwards)
This not only fits “The Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd” perfectly, as intended, it also scans pretty well to “Brennan on the Moor” without its refrain. I’m sure there are other great ballad tunes out there that will serve. Thanks for helping Bring Back the Ballad in our times, Jeff!
Thanks, Newbie!
The version of “Pretty Boy Floyd” I was thinking of comes from the Byrds’ 1968 gem, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo,” which I heartily recommend if you haven’t heard it.