Steve Earle
Johnny Come Lately
[Verse 1]
I'm an American, boys
I've come a long way
I was born and bred in the USA
So listen up close
I've got somethin' to say
Boys, I'm buying this round

[Verse 2]
Well it took a little while, but we're in this fight
And we ain't going home until we've done what's right
We're going to drink Camden Town dry tonight
If I have to spend my last pound

[Verse 3]
When I first got to London it was pouring down rain
Met a little girl in the field canteen
Painted her name on the nose of my plane
Six more missions, I'm gone

[Verse 4]
Well I asked if I could stay and she said that I might
Then the warden came around yelling "shut out the lights"
Death raining out of the London night
We made love 'til dawn
[Chorus]
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
They'll be waiting at the station down in San Antone
When Johnny comes marching home

[Verse 5]
My P-47 is a pretty good ship
And she took a round coming cross the Channel last trip
I was thinking about my baby and letting her rip
Always got me through so far

[Verse 6]
Well they can ship me all over this great big world
Never find nothing like my North End girl
I'm taking her home with me one day, sir
Soon as we win this war

[Chorus]
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
They'll be waiting at the station down in San Antone
When Johnny comes marching home

Johnny!
[Guitar Solo]
1:47 - 2:09

[Verse 7]
Now my granddaddy sang me this song
Told me about London when the Blitz was on
How he married Grandma and brought her back home
A hero throughout this land

[Verse 8]
Now I'm standing on a runway in San Diego
A couple purple hearts, so I move a little slow
There's nobody here, maybe nobody knows
About a place called Vietnam

[Chorus]
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
They'll be waiting at the station down in San Antone
When Johnny comes marching home

[Chorus]
But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home
With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan
They'll be waiting at the station down in San Antone
When Johnny comes marching home