1.

 G        /             /     /
'way down yonder on the Candy Creek,
 |G              /             D     /
I whittled out a fiddle from a wagon seat,
 |G        /            /          /
I tuned my fiddle and I rosined my bow,
        |D             /         /      G  |
And I'll play a little tune wher-ever I go.

chorus:

G           /     /           /           |
Sleepy-eyed John, better your britches on,
G           /            /        D    |
Sleepy-eyed John, better tie your shoe,
G           /     /               /           |
Sleepy-eyed John, better get your britches on,
G            /                D             /   |
Gotta get to heaven 'fore the devil gets to you.

2.

Well, sleepy-eyed John he stole a goose,
The goose she clucked but she couldn't get loose,
Said John to the goose, "If you don't be still,
Well miss our supper down in Candyville".

chorus:

3.

Sleepy-eyed John he had a wooden leg,
The wooden leg was nothing but a little wooden peg,
With one shoe off and one shoe on,
He'll play the double shuffle 'till the cows come home.

chorus:

4.

Now I got twenty dollars for to build a fence,
I took my money and I ain't worked since,
Sold my buggy and I sold my plow,
I wouldn't take a dollar for my journey now.

chorus:

5.

Over the hickory and down the pine,
The raccoon left and the old hound whined,
John said, "Sic 'em" and the raccoon left,
They crossed Green River in a minute and a half.

chorus: