Who could have guessed how good a sausage this man would go on to make?

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean

This makes me think about my daddy. He had the LP on vinyl when i was a little girl. He played this song over and over. His name was John but his nickname was Buddy. He had a deep robust voice and would sing along . We lost daddy almost 3 yrs ago to brain cancer ,2 days before his 78th birthday. RIP Big John 🙏💔😪

Being 19 in 2019 and listening to this kind of music, ain't got me popular in school. But damn who needs that when you got this kind of art.

Such a great and underrated song.

This was the soul of old country music, the storytellers. Today’s country music has no storytelling thus no soul. RIP Jimmy Dean

the art of story-telling is long gone

I'm latin american, born and raised in Puerto Rico. Moved to Ohio two years ago and met a guy at my job that for some reason thinks of this son every time he sees me; I had to look it up. I'm not tall, by any means, people call me John since I can remember and my name tag reads "John" not Juan. Long story short, here I am, loving this beautiful and masterful story. I just wish I could visit the 60s for a couple hours. This was great!

This is an all-time classic! Big John.

I'm 50 ,when I was young my dad and his best friend had a bar in the basement......this song was one I know and still enjoy

Thank you for having a live version of this song. Excellent.

That's pure raw talent. 2 B&W cameras, a mic, small rhythm section and chorus....and Mr. Dean.

I love this old music, it tells a great story

grew up a few blocks from the deans, who were friends with my parents. when he was making the movie "diamonds are forever" he played a character originally named willard white. dean went to the producers and requested that the character have a change of name -- or at least the spelling thereof. it was a great surprise to see the movie for the first time and behold our family name in large letters atop the "Whyte House," a large hotel owned by the willard whyte character. a thoughtful gesture by dean that i have the pleasure of revisiting every time i watch the movie -- even some 50 years later.

I loved this song when I first heard it and 40 years later same thing!!

I got a Big John, He's My Son. 6'6" 260... Nicest guy you would ever want to Meet.

My Mom & Dad, met Mr. Jimmy Dean back in the early 1950's, when Mr. Dean was just beginning his singing career!! I understand Mr. Dean not only had a good voice, he was also a true Southern gentlemen & enjoyed personally meeting the people who came to see Mr. Dean perform!! I know he's in Heaven with my Lord God & my Mom& Dad!!

It always makes me cry. ❤

What a charmer. Awesome song.

I sing or hum this song when eating Jimmy Dean Sausage, both my Fav YUM!!

I've loved that song for sixty years. :)

My Dad’s favorite song! He was only 5’9 but we respected him! No lip from us!! Sure do miss him!

Saw him Live in 1972 our 1st anniversary. Very nice gentleman with a great voice. Left us too soon. RIP

YUP! First times I remember hearing this song, sittin' in the back of a big 'ol '68 Cadillac.....my mom stopped, rolled her window down, and spoke at length with a friend, while I wasn't making a sound, her friend noticed the tears streaming from my eyes and exclaimed "Jesus, what's wrong with the kid?"....mom said "Oh, she's just sad about this song".....I couldn't have been more than five, or six.....Proud of who that little girl was.....and she hasn't changed!

My "pop" always had this "45" playing........Didn't appreciate back then.......great song!

Always loved this song. Maybe 'cause my father was 6'6" and never took any lip from his four children.

"Ahh, Big Bad John" = priceless

I always loved this song by Jimmy Dean.

One of my Dad's old favs...gonna perfect this classic at some point.

Our shift used to sing along to this song at work. I still know the entire lyric.

WOW! I used to sing this when I walked to grade school. Thanx for the Treasure!

We named a dog after this song. He lived for 17 years and had a big heart.

One of my Dad's favourites, fantastic song

I listened to this on a record in prob 1975, when I learned how to use a record player, he still rocks

I am so glad we have footage like this still around. When hummanity fails, this will remind the next race on this world that not all humans were hopeless ;)

What a hottie! The way he walked up so smoothly with so much swagger, my heart just skipped a beat💗

This is another song that always makes me cry, I must be far more sentimental than I originally thought! Partly because my own John was - well, called John - but also I've always felt how lonely Big John must have been, poor chap. He would have benefited from a good chat with a mate, or someone taking him out for a meal, or something.

I like me very much this song for jimmy dean. Congratulations from CHILE 🇨🇱🇨🇱 AGOSTO 2020

love this song Grew up with it use to listen to it on my 45 record in the 60's

Rest In Peace jimmy dean

Thank you so much Mr. Dean for classics like this and others we can look back on in times where strength is needed.

makes me cry every time

i love this even though it was way before my time 😁😂😍

Just simply tge best version ever....I remember when i heard this song I was 7, and had a big bad uncle John but loved him......

You have to wonder how many times Jimmy Dean sang this song on the Jimmy Dean Show, as shown here.

This was one of my favorite song's when I was real young. I loved some movies he played in also.

my father stood 6'8" and worked at American Can Co. He was a lithographer. He helped designed the color scheme for STP oil treatment, hunts tomato and several others. He kept the original plates at home and everyone called him "Big John" or JB. He liked to listen to this song. Brings back so many memories.

I see this as a "Unplugged" version of "Big John"....I love it!

Sixty years ago today in 1961 {November 6th} "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean peaked at #1 {for 5 weeks} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, and it spent sixteen weeks on the Top 100... "Big Bad John" also reached #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles and Easy Listening charts... Between 1957 and 1976 the Olton, Texas native had ten records on the Top 100 chart, two made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, the above "Big Bad John" Besides "Big Bad John", his other Top 10 record was "P.T. 109", it peaked #8 for one week in May of 1962... He had four Top 30 records, "Dear Ivan" at #24 for two weeks in January of 1962, "The Cajun Queen" at #22 for one week in February of 1962, "To A Sleeping Beauty" at #26 for one week in February of 1962, and "Little Black Book" at #29 for one week in October of 1962... Jimmy Ray Dean passed away at the age of 81 on June 13th, 2010... May he R.I.P. And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on November 6th, 1961: At #2. "Runaround Sue" by Dion {it was the #1 record for the previous two weeks} #3."Bristol Stomp" by The Dovells #4. "Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles #5. "Fool #1" by Brenda Lee (Decca)-6 (5) #6. "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" by Sue Thompson #7. "This Time" by Troy Shondell #8. "The Fly" by Chubby Checker #9. "I Love How You Love Me" by The Paris Sisters #10. "Tower of Strength" by Gene McDaniels

What a great ole Classic

i use to love this song when i was young...still makes me smile..:)

Love this song

Our 4 year old daughter and 7 month old son love this song. Our boy will completely calm down from a fit if this is played.

One of my favorite songs!!!! Thank You.

I love the way he says big John!

Jimmy Dean was a delightful entertainer in so many ways. Deservedly called America's Favorite Son. Still listen to many of his fine recordings, and really appreciate this upload (Thanks!).

The real lyrics at the end are At the bottom of this pit lies one hell of a man, big John. But the television censors wouldn't allow him to say hell. So he changed it to a big, big man. Hey, it was 1961!

My mom met Jimmy dean once in the late 60s. Got his autograph. Wish she kept it

One of my most favorite possessions is an autograph given to me by Jimmy Dean himself. My name is John, and all of my life since about the age of 6 my family has called be "Big Bad John" - I was HUGE at an early age. Never quite hit the height of big John, he was 6'6", I am 6'5. I was over 6 foot at the age of 11. As a kid I loved the song and it inspired a life long love of country music- as an adult the first song that I did in front of an audience was of course "Big Bad John"! Anyway, many years ago I wrote a letter to Jimmy Dean, thanked him for the music, told him my story and told him what an impact his music had on my life, even sent him a tape of my own cover of "Big Bad John". I didn't ask for anything in return in my letter, it was just a thank you letter, never expected to hear back from him. Anyway, a few weeks after I had sent that letter there was a large manila envelope in my mailbox one day, I pulled it out and the return address was stamped with "Jimmy Dean Enterprises". I opened it up, and there was a nice letter from the man himself inside, and an 8x10 autographed photo that read "TO BIG BAD JOHN -Jimmy Dean". To say I was thrilled would be an understatement! What a great guy!

I always envision this tale and in my mind Big John is Jimmy Dean.

My father always big John cause I'm 6'5 and I weigh 255 pounds and I'm one of the most nice polite person you'd ever meet

So deam Good looking Jimmy ♥️❤️♥️

Wow...back when music was real!

Great song!

Love it!

1 of my faves from my childhood when i was 5/6 years old also mother of mine

I’m 10 and listening to music from the 80s to the 50s

I love this song.. i love all the old songs.. im prob one of the few 40 year olds that cruise the summer roof open windows down these good old songs blaring lol

What a great video, to see Jimmy LIVE.! Here is my story from 1961. BIG BAD JOHN. In 1961 I was age 17, and a radio station in Bakersfield , CA, had a contest DRAW BIG BAD JOHN. I won! My mom kept the drawings put away for all these years. At some point, over 20 years ago, I had to clean out her apt. I found the drawings. I put them in a box with all her things. Now, it was time to discard things. Hard to do emotionally. I found the drawings again. Go to FACEBOOK, look me up. LOUIS VELASQUEZ. There, I posted those 2 drawings from 1961. A great time to be a teenager....Elvis, Ritchie Valens ( my hero) , Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and JIMMY DEAN.-- RIP.

The origins of rap are in this style of country music. Rappers probably don't even realize it, but that's where it comes from. This was a popular style when I was a kid. Porter Wagoner comes to mind. He talked about half his songs. It continued to be popular even into the seventies with songs like Convoy which was a huge hit and inspired a bad Sam Peckinpah movie.

What a classic.

A legend ol' James Dean.

The Jordanaires were the original back up voices. Great group.

loved this guy

This song reminds me of my father who was called big John he never started a fight but when he hit them their faces would split he was a good man

👍 old 🏫 song! Still listening May 2020

First time I've seen this, singing along, in the bath lol. 👍👍👍

This make me think of my grandparents

I was born in 64 but never heard of the Jimmy Dean Show.

My boss sang this song today and couldn't believe I'd never heard it. And to think it was sausage magnate Jimmy Dean.

Big Hell of a Man.

Geoff Castellucci just dropped a cover of this song-it’s a gorgeous tribute.

I have an operations manager in the warehouse I work at. He looks like Jimmy Dean, but his name is john. Here's the kicker, we're in Louisiana too maybe an hour from New Orleans

I alway wanted to hear this again.

I wonder if there’s a version where he says he stood 5’6” and weighed 145.... I’d walk everywhere with that playing behind me

There's a French Canadian version of this song titled "Gros jambon", i.e. "Big ham". I grew up with this song and I always picture a giant ham when I hear this song, :) I just found out about the English version watching your video. It´s great! He sure was a handsome man.

this is my favorite song Jimmy Dean!

Love this

This was fun to watch, and hear. In the third grade, I got a record player for Christmas, along with a few 45rpm records. This was one of them. I still have the record in the photo cover/sleeve. They are both in very good condition. Of course, on the record he says something else was written on that marble stand.

ain't nobody can sing like him 🎵

Great song.

This is definitely the best version of the song

Handsome man and singer

How many folks know that he wrote a sequel called "Cajun Queen" and it has a happy ending? ☺

My dad use to sing this to me because my name is john

This is a Classic. one of the greatest ballads recorded. From this song a Name and fortune was made. Try doing that now with all of the corruption. An example of how money corrupts all.

That's a great song . still like ...

Thank You.

Thank you for posting this! Nowadays he is known for the country sausages and breakfast entrees his company produces.

I think it's a GREAT song & pray it'll last the test of time, doin' good so far..