The John Bull Tin - Tom Russell

He said it saved him from a bullet once — but I did not believe

He was just an old man in the park, half drunk on rum

As he rolled another smoke and closed the John Bull Tin

He said,"I've carried that since 1931."

Rubbed and worn shiny silver — blue letters chipped away

Old memories and tobacco fit within

He had one religious medal that he carried near his heart

But his pride and joy was that old John Bull Tin

He said, «it used to be a tyre-patch kit but that was long ago…

It’s memories and tobacco now, my friend.

Ya know some folks need a magic lamp to conjure up their dreams

But mine are kept inside the John Bull tin.»

Rubbed and worn shiny silver — blue letters chipped away

Old memories and tobacco fit within

He had one religious medal that he carried near his heart

But his pride and joy was that old John Bull Tin

I found it lyin' in the grass,

in a park near Shepherd’s Bush

I never saw that old man again

I guess he rolled his final smoke and went to his reward

Why else would he have dropped the John Bull Tin?

Rubbed and worn shiny silver — blue letters chipped away

Old memories and tobacco fit within

He had one religious medal that he carried near his heart

But his pride and joy was that old John Bull Tin

His pride and joy was that old John Bull Tin

His pride and joy was that old John Bull Tin