now buttermilk john played the steel guitar it made a mournful sound from the cotton fields of arkansas to the streets of that nashville town oh john oh john play all night long play till my tears run dry oh john oh john play one last song before you take that final ride now buttermilk john sure loved miss jean she never left his side was the sweetest love ive ever seen the holy bible was their guide now buttermilk john was a godly man i loved him like a son now hes gone on to the glory land with jesus he he will run oh john oh john play one last song before you take that final ride