Writer Dolly Parton
John Daniel came to town one summer afternoon
Wearin` dirty work clothes so everyone presumed
He was just another logger from the loggin` camp nearby
And he was, but there was somethin` different in John Daniel`s eyes
John Daniel was a young man, not more than twenty-four
And there was an air about him that one could not ignore
And in spite of callused hands & dirty clothes, his face was kind
And I wanted so to know what was in John Daniel`s mind
John Daniel, tell me where did you come from; tell me where is
it you`ve been
John Daniel, tell me why are you different from all of these other men
John Daniel, there`s somethin` about you that I don`t quite understand
John Daniel, do you hold the answer to a higher plan?
I rented him a room; he went upstairs like all the rest
It was Saturday and he`d be goin` in to town, I guessed
But he left in a robe and sandals, with a Bible in his hand;
And I thought to myself, John Daniel, I don`t understand
Now I`d planned to meet some friends of mine when I got off at three,
In the park we often gather to talk of love and peace
When I got there I found that a crowd had gathered `round;
And there I saw John Daniel a sittin` on the ground
John Daniel, tell me where did you come from; tell me where is
it you`ve been
John Daniel, tell me why are you different from all of these other men
John Daniel, there`s somethin` about you that I don`t quite understand
John Daniel, do you hold the answer to a higher plan?
So, "You want to be free," he said, "Well, this
is how you can."
As he read from the Bible he held in his hand
We were searchin` for the truth not knowin` where to look,
Not knowin` that the answers all were in John Daniel`s book
John Daniel told us all how we could be free
John Daniel taught us all a better way for you and me
He came to us in our own way so we`d be sure to see
He had the light and essence of the man from Galilee
John Daniel, tell me where did you come from; tell me where is
it you`ve been
John Daniel, tell me why are you different from all of these other men
John Daniel, there`s something about you that I don`t quite understand
John Daniel, do you hold the answer to a higher plan?
John Daniel, John Daniel, John Daniel
John Daniel do you hold the answer to a higher plan?
John Daniel came to town one summer afternoon
Wearin` dirty work clothes so everyone presumed
He was just another logger from the loggin` camp nearby
And he was, but there was somethin` different in John Daniel`s eyes
Ooh, John Daniel, tell me where did you come from
Tell me where is it you`ve been
John Daniel, tell me why are you different from all of these other men
John Daniel, there`s something about you that I don`t quite understand
John Daniel, do you hold the answer to a higher plan?
