Big Bad John

November–December 1961

Unless you're old enough to remember this song, you probably identify Jimmy Dean not with country music, but with this:

But in fact Dean, who died last summer, was a very successful country singer, and "Big Bad John" was his breakthrough hit, as well as one of the most popular songs of the year, holding an impressive 5 weeks at #1. It tells the story of the eponymous John, who it turns out isn't really "bad" at all, although he is indeed big; he uses his legendary strength to rescue a group of trapped miners, only to be killed himself when the mine collapses. It plays as a sort of American "tall-tale" story, not unlike Paul Bunyan or John Henry.

It is, in fact, a "talking song," a genre which I don't believe we have encountered yet in this project. We've discussed the talking verse in "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" but this is sort of a separate category. Country and folk music have their roots in storytelling, and this kind of song does that in the most direct way: by simply telling the story (in verse, of course). Dean's voice is appropriately deep and grave for the tale, although to modern ears, the whole thing seems hopelessly dated.

One approach to the talking song which has survived better, I think, is infusing it with comedy, as Bob Dylan was wont to do, as in this very amusing early performance:

This is rooted in the same folk tradition as "Big Bad John" – Dylan's near-worship of Woody Guthrie is well documented – but Dylan's unwillingness to take himself seriously is what gives it its real charm and staying power. Dean's approach, while somewhat convincing, is too plain to have any real value besides historical curiosity. Perhaps the talking song will make a comeback someday, but it doesn't seem likely, in the near future, anyway.

Jimmy Dean continued to have success into the 70s in the country charts, but in terms of crossover appeal, he only had this song and a nationalistic 1962 top-ten "PT-109." I wonder if his sausages are any good?

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