Terry Callier - Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be [tekst, tłumaczenie i interpretacja piosenki]

There was an old man lived over the hill
Oh, Johnny, be gay
There was an old man lived over the hill
If he ain't moved away, he's a-livin' there still
Johnny, be gay if you can be

The devil come up to the old man one day
Oh, Johnny, be gay
The devil come up to the old man one day
And he says, "Your old lady I'm takin' away."
Johnny, be gay if you can be

"Well, take her, please take her with all o' my heart
Oh, yeah, you can have her with all o' my heart
I hope to my soul you two never part."

The devil he packed her up on his back
The devil he packed her up on his back
Straight down the hill he went clickety-clack

Well, ten little devils said, "Welcome to hell."
Yeah, ten little devils said, "Welcome to hell
Pa, turn up the fire; we'll sizzle her well."

She caught four little devils out playin' tricks
She caught four little devils out playin' tricks
She bound 'em up tightly an' beat 'em with sticks

Well six scared little devils they run down the hall
Six little devils they run down the hall
Cryin', "Take her back, daddy; she's killin' us all."

Oh, the devil he flung her up on his back
The devil he flung her up on his back
Straight out o' hell he come clickety-clack

She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed
She found her ol' man layin' late in his bed
An' she picked up a butterknife, went to his head

The old woman went whistlin' over the hill
Oh, Johnny, be gay
The old woman went whistlin' over the hill
"Devil won't have me; I wonder who will?"
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Johnny, be gay if you can be
Johnny, be gay if you can be