Bill Johnson, the Monkey and the Diego

Cat. #0165 (MFH #44) - As sung by Mr. Fred Smith, Bentonville, Arkansas on June 23, 1958

VERSE 1
I was standing on th corner
Watching a diego and his monk
Th monkey passed the hat around
Bill Johnson threw something in
He thought it was a penny
But it was a five in gold
And they begin t' fighting
Like the warriors of old

VERSE 2
Bill Johnson grabbed th monkey
And he choked him black an' blue
Th monkey jumped on Johnson pants
And tore them half-in-two
Th monkey jumped in Johnson's breast
And spit in Johnson's face
And Johnson swore that nothing more
Could save him from disgrace

VERSE 3
It was, up and down and all around
And in the air and on th ground
Such carrying on I never saw before
I don't know that monkeys name
But he got there just th same
Bill Johnson, th monkey and th diego

VERSE 4
Th diego threw a brick at Johnson
Johnson let it pass
Flew over and hit the Chinaman
And broke th Dutchmans window glass
Th Dutchman came out running
To see what he had found
Th Chinaman grabbed th monkeys tail
An' knocked th Dutchman down

VERSE 5
It was up and down and all around
And in the air and on th ground
Such carrying on I never saw before
I don't know that monkeys name
But he got there just th same
Bill Johnson, th monkey and th diego

Fred is a barber and learned most of his songs from his Mother and other relatives.