In an aero-plane a man was seen
Holding his banjo by a string
I'll send by bird a greeting word
To thank him for singing
But a group of men gather round
And they all decide to shoot him down
And a group of men gather round
And they all decide to shoot him down
But the aeroplane captain gripped
Tightly to his reins
He's holding on his steam engine
Still pickin' while he sinks
He doesn't pay them no mind
He just listens to the voice inside
He doesn't pay them no mind
Just listens to the voice inside
Oh Captain John, are you still holding on
Oh Captain John, are you still smoking one
Oh Captain John, are there heads up there in heaven
Yeah Captain John, you still holding
The men had came with autumn rain
And offered John the same
To build his things as he saw fit
And make him stinking rich
But his vision took a turnaround
And it almost went an' took him down
His vision took a turnaround
And it almost went an' took him down
But our man John he wasn't done
A trick up on his sleeve
He built upon a foundation
So solid it wouldn't creak
And when the men came around
He hopped inside his ship and bound
And when the men came around
He hopped inside his ship and bound
Oh Captain John, are you still holding on
Oh Captain John, are you still smoking one
Oh Captain John, are there heads up there in heaven
Yeah Captain John, you still holding
Oh Captain John, are you still holding on
Oh Captain John, are you still smoking one
Oh Captain John, are there heads up there in heaven
Yeah Captain John, you still holding
But a group of men gather round
And they all decide to shoot him down