Big John,
Big John,

He was larger than life, a real man among men
And he shadowed the parts that he played back then
He was christened Marion, before all his fame
But I don't think no one dared make fun of that name, Big John

Big John,
Big John..
Big John Wayne,
Big John

He started off small in western flicks
Got a job as prop man and learned all the tricks
In his younger years, he was quiet and shy
And when he met John Ford, his career would fly..Big John

They did the film, "Stagecoach" in "Thirty-nine"
It's where a legend began, and when his Star would shine
There would come many more from the "Ford-Wayne" clan
Like "Fort Apache", "Red River", and "The Quiet Man"

Big John,
Big John,
Big John Wayne,
Big John

Walked with a swagger..and when he'd talk he'd pause
Had conservative ways, patriotic..he was
He made war movies in world war II
Though he tried to enlist, just couldn't get thru..Big John

Would visit Viet Nam in the early days
As a "Special Force" tribute, he made "The Green Berets"
It was panned by critics, but he just fluffed it off
'Cause he was John,"The Duke" Wayne..standin' tall at the Trough
Big John..

Big John,
Big John,
Big John Wayne,
Big John..

His nickname "Duke" was a label as a kid
And a tag that stuck, as he made life's bid
In "Sixty-nine" he nailed the part in "True Grit"
Academy award..he'd pick up for it..Big John

Rooster Cogburn's the name of the man he played
Wore an eyepatch on one eye, a sheriff portrayed
With his horse reins mouth held, double barreled shotgun
He rode against outlaw odds, yelled, "Of a bitch, you're a son!"
Big John,

Big John,
Big John,
Big John Wayne,
Big John

Made his last film, "The Shootist" in Seventy six
The most sad and ironic of all his pics
'Bout a man with cancer doomed to die
Just as he was in real life, his way of sayin' goodbye..Big John

Big John,
Big John,
Big Duke Wayne
Big John