"My Big John" is a song written by Jean Dean,

Ira Louvin Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (April 21, 1924 – June 20, 1965), known professionally as Ira Louvin, was an American country music singer, mandolinist and songwriter. He was a cousin of songwriter John D. Loudermilk. Biography Ira Louvin was born in ...

and

Charlie Louvin Charles Elzer Loudermilk (July 7, 1927 – January 26, 2011), known professionally as Charlie Louvin, was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry ...

of the Louvin Brothers, and J. Newman. The song was recorded by American country music artist

Dottie West Dottie West (born Dorothy Marie Marsh; October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country singer and songwriter. She also had several credits as an actress. A distinguished figure in the country genre, West was among several people ...

, as an

answer song An answer song, response song or answer record is a song (usually a recorded track) made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s to the 1950s. Answer son ...

Jimmy Dean Jimmy Ray Dean (August 10, 1928 – June 13, 2010) was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. He was the creator of the Jimmy Dean (brand), Jimmy Dean sausage brand as well as the spokesman for its TV comm ...

's hit "

Big Bad John "Big Bad John" is a country music, country song written and originally performed by Jimmy Dean. It was released in September 1961 and by the beginning of November it had gone to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It won ...

". It was released in October 1961 as her third release on Starday Records. The B-side is a track tilted, "Men With Evil Hearts"

Song background

The song is told from the point of view of the "Cajun Queen" that drove John away – her search for him, then discovering about his death. The song follows the same format as "Big Bad John" except that the chorus intoning the title periodically is made up of male voices and is sung in a different key; unusually for "answer songs", the composer of the original - Jimmy Dean, in this case - is included in the songwriter credits.

References

{{authority control 1961 songs 1961 singles Answer songs Dottie West songs Starday Records singles Songs written by Ira Louvin Songs written by Charlie Louvin