Joe's Been A-Gittin' There

(album: The Spectacular Johnny Horton - 1959)

There was a Yankee Cornel in 1862
Who fell in love with a Southern belle where the sweet Magnolias bloom
He wondered why folks laughed at him when he went riding by
But little did he know that she was a courting on the sly

Joe's been a getting there, Joe's been a flying
Joe's been a getting there all this time
Joe's been a getting there, Joe's been a flying
Joe's been a getting there beating his time

He walked her up the mountain he named it to her there
He offered her a band of gold and his name to share
She said that she would marry him and even set the day
But little did he know that she loved a soldier boy in grey

(Joe's been a getting there) Joe's been a flying
(Joe's been a getting there) All this time
(Joe's been a getting there) Joe's been a flying
(Joe's been a getting there) Beating his time

She took the love he offered, she took his silver too
She took every little thing from Cornel dressed in blue
She wouldn't let him hold her in a fond embrace
And when he tried to kiss his bride she laughed right in his face

Joe's been a getting there, Joe's been a flying
Joe's been a getting there all this time
Joe's been a getting there, Joe's been a flying
Joe's been a getting there beating his time

He woke up one morning and found himself alone
And all she left was a letter that said goodbye farewell I'm gone
No doubt he was a mighty man where the heroes fell
But all is fare in love and war and he lost his Southern belle

(Joe's been a getting there) Joe's been a flying
(Joe's been a getting there) All this time
(Joe's been a getting there) Joe's been a flying
(Joe's been a getting there) Beating his time

(Joe's been a getting there) Joe's been a flying
(Joe's been a getting there) All this time
(Joe's been a getting there) Joe's been a flying
(Joe's been a getting there) Beating his time