Dear John (Honky Tonkin')

Lyrics: Unknown/Hank Williams
Music: Unknown/Hank Williams

Played by Jerry Garcia with Doug Sahm, Leon Russell, Phil Lesh and Mary Egan at the Armadillo World Headquarters on 23 November 1972. Sung by Doug Sahm with Jerry on guitar.

The lyrics are very hard to make out. The chorus line seems to come from the Hank Williams' song "Dear John" but the rest of the lyrics bear no relation. Nor is it really related to the Hank Williams' song "Honky Tonkin'" despite a couple of lines in common. It often appears in setlists as "Honky Tonkin' > Dear John"

Well I'm here little daddy out of Mobile Alabama
Working on [?] home
If you know you ain't no saint
[Play] the blues no more
That's all she wrote, dear John, I brought your saddle home

Well if you don't [talk] me rockin'
Tell me where you been
We'll go [marching] baby
We'll go stamping out
Honky tonkin', [?]
Go honky tonkin' [round this town]

[?] all the day out of Mobile Alabama
All my hard at work
If you'd only let me stand
For the [?] and go
That's all she wrote, dear John, I brought your saddle home

If you don't talk to me baby
If you want to stay
You're gonna find me baby
We'll go out and pray
That's all she wrote, dear John, I brought your saddle home

Well when I woke up this mornin'
There was a note upon my door
Said don't make me no coffee, babe
'cause I won't be back no more
And that's all she wrote (Dear John)
I've sent your saddle home

Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale
Daniel in the lion's den
But I know a guy that didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
And that's all she wrote (Dear John)
I've fetched your saddle home

Well she didn't forward no address
Nor she didn't say goodbye
All she said was if you get blue
Just hang your little head and cry
And that's all she wrote (Dear John)
I've sent your saddle home

Now my gal's short and stubby She's strong as she can be But if that little old gal of mine Ever get's a-hold of me And that's all she wrote (Dear John)
I've sent your saddle home

Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale
Daniel in the lion's den
But I know a guy that didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
And that's all she wrote (Dear John)
I've fetched your saddle home

Now I went down to the bank this morning
The cashier said with a grin
I feel so sorry for you Hank
But your wife has done been in
And that's all she wrote (Dear John)
I've sent your saddle home

When you are sad and lonely and have no place to go
Call me up, sweet baby, and bring along some dough
And we'll go honky tonkin', honky tonkin'
Honky tonkin', honey baby
We'll go honky tonkin' 'round this town

When you and your baby have a fallin' out
Just call me up sweet mama and we'll go steppin' out
And we'll go honky tonkin', honky tonkin'
Honky tonkin', honey baby
We'll go honky tonkin' 'round this town

We're goin' to the city, to the city fair
If you go to the city then you will find me there
And we'll go honky tonkin', honky tonkin'
Honky tonkin', honey baby
We'll go honky tonkin' 'round this town

When you are sad and lonely and have no place to go
Call me up, sweet baby, and bring along some dough
And we'll go honky tonkin', honky tonkin'
Honky tonkin', honey baby
We'll go honky tonkin' 'round this town