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Old John Robertson       (Hillman/McGuinn)


Old John Robertson he wore a Stetson hat
People everywhere would laugh behind his back
No one cared to take any time to find out
What he was all about, fear  kept them out

Children laughed and played and didn't know his name
They could tell when he was coming just the same
Walking slow with old John's crippled wife by his side
Then she sighed, then she died

Magic words from him would charm some children's ears
But they laughed at him when he hid behind his tears
All in vain was no game for he'd lost an old friend
in the end, in the end

Old John Robertson he wore a Stetson hat
People everywhere would laugh behind his back
No one cared to take any time to find out
What he was all about, fear kept them out

The Byrds  "Notorious Byrd Brothers"
Columbia Records  1968
Outtake from "Younger Than Yesterday"



New Old John Robertson       (Hillman/McGuinn)


Old John Robertson he wore a Stetson hat
People passing by would never affect
Long white hair bright blue eyes shining through
's if he knew, and he always knew

Children laughing playing didn't know his name
They could tell when he was coming just the same
Walking slow with old John's crippled wife by his side
Then she sighed, then she died

As a younger man he wore many hats so well
In the early days of Hollywood so many stories to tell
And after many years his legacy remains
Settle down in the country in .............

Magic words from him caressing children's ears
And their laughter helped to hide away his tears
All in vain it was no game for he'd lost an old friend
in the end, in the end

Old John Robertson he wore a Stetson hat
People everywhere would laugh behind his back
No one cared to take any time to find out
What he was all about

Chris Hillman  "Bidin' My Time" 2017