JOHN HENRY

Questions?
Song Title
JOHN HENRY
Writers
Hays, Hellerman, Gilbert, Seeger
Publisher
FOLKWAYS MUSIC PUBLISHERS, INC. (BMI)
% Publisher Controls
100%
Territory Controlled
WORLD
Themes/Keywords
Death, Hammer, Henry, John, Kiss, Lord, Man, Polly Ann, Ring, Speech, Steel
Lyrics
John Henry he could hammer, he could whistle, he could sing,
He went to the mountain early in the mornin’ just to hear his hammer ring,
Lord, Lord, hear his hammer ring. Just to hear his hammer ring,
Lord, Lord, hear his hammer ring.
When John Henry was a little baby, sittin’ on his daddy’s knee,
He picked up a hammer, a little piece of steel,
Said, “Hammer be the death of me,
Lord, Lord, hammer be the death of me”.
Well, John Henry’s fam’ly needed money,
Said “He didn’t have but a dime,
If you wait till the red sun goes down, I’ll git it from the men in the mine,
Lord, Lord, git it from the men in the mine. I’ll git it from the men in the mine,
Lord, Lord, git it from the men in the mine.”

John Henry went to the captain, Said the captain, “What can you do?”
I can hoist the jack, I can lay a track, I can pick and shovel, too,
Lord, Lord, pick and shovel, too. I can pick and shovel, too,
Lord, Lord, pick and shovel, too.
Well, the captain said to John Henry, “I’m gonna bring me a steam drill round,
Gonna bring me a steam drill out on the job, gonna whoop that steel on down,
Lord, Lord, whoop that steel on down.”
Well, John Henry said to the captain “Oh, a man ain’t nothin’ but a man.
‘Fore I’d let your steam drill beat me down, I’ll die with the hammer in my hand,
Lord, Lord, die with the hammer in my hand. I’ll die with the hammer in my hand,
Lord, Lord, die with the hammer in my hand.”

Well, John Henry said to the captain, “Look-a yonder what I see
Coal done choke, drill done broke, and you can’t drive steel like me,
Lord, Lord can’t drive steel like me. Oh, you can’t drive steel like me,
No, no, can’t drive steel like me.
Well, John Henry drove into the mountain, his hammer was striking fire.
He drove so hard he broke his poor heart, well, he laid down his hammer and he died.
Lord, Lord, laid down his hammer and he died.
Oh, they took John Henry to the White House, and they buried him in the sand.
Every locomotive came roaring by, says, “There lies a steel-drivin’ man,”
Lord, Lord, there lies a steel-drivin’ man,
Says, “There lies a steel-drivin’ man,”
Lord, Lord, there lies a steel-drivin’ man.

Recordings

Recording Artist Genre Mood Arrangement Era iTunes
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Buy >
HARRY BELAFONTE Vocal Confident, Determined Acoustic Guitar, Vocal 1950's Buy >
JOHN MCCUTCHEON Bluegrass Determined, Lively, Swinging, Upbeat Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Vocal 1980's Buy >
Lead Belly Blues Confident, Determined, Nostalgic Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Vocal 1940's Buy >
MERLE TRAVIS Country Confident, Determined, Up-tempo, Upbeat Drums, Guitar, Vocal 1940's Buy >
PETE SEEGER Singer/Songwriter Confident, Swinging, Up-tempo Banjo, Live Performance, Sing Along, Vocal 1980's Buy >
WOODY GUTHRIE Singer/Songwriter Confident, Determined, Nostalgic Acoustic Guitar, Vocal 1940's Buy >
WOODY GUTHRIE & CISCO HOUSTON Singer/Songwriter Confident, Determined, Nostalgic Acoustic Guitar, Group Sing, Vocal 1940's Buy >

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