| John
Henry
This is a slide guitar piece which I learned from Frank Hamilton's record "Frank Hamilton Sings Folks Songs" when I was a kid. It may be an old saw but it is good one. Back to the list |
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Lyrics John Henry was a steel drivin' man Drove all over this land With his hammer in his own right hand He could out drive any other man Out drive any other man Well the capt'n said to John Henry Gonna bring me a steam drill around You're gonna take that steam drill out on the job You're gonna wop that steel on down Wop that steel on down John Henry said to his captain A main ain't nothin' but a man And before I let that steam drill beat me down I'm gonna die with a hammer in my hand Die with a hammer in my hand Well the capt'n said to John Henry John Henry damn your soul You're gonna race that steam drill down that tunnel Till the rocks in the mountain turn to gold Till the rocks in the mountain turn to gold Well, it was a mighty hot day that John Henry was a poundin' Weren't no breeze at all Sweat come down like water off a hill The day John Henry let his hammer fall The day John Henry let his hammer fall John Henry, John Henry Blood was runnin' red Fell right down with his hammer in his hand Said I beat it to the bottom but I'm dead I beat it to the bottom but I'm dead They took John Henry to the graveyard And they buried him in the sand And every locomotive that comes roarin' round the bend Cries there lies a steel drivin' man There lies a steel drivin' man |