album cover
John Henry
5
Folk
John Henry was released on January 1, 1987 by Flying Fish as a part of the album Carry It On: Songs Of America's Working People
album cover
Release DateJanuary 1, 1987
LabelFlying Fish
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Vocals, Banjo, Guitar, Background Vocals, Percussion
Si Kahn
Si Kahn
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocals
Jane Sapp
Jane Sapp
Piano, Vocals, Background Vocals
John Miller
John Miller
Electric Bass Guitar, Upright Bass
Arlen Roth
Arlen Roth
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Fred Hellerman
Fred Hellerman
Synthesizer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Bruce Kaplan
Bruce Kaplan
Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer
Fred Hellerman
Fred Hellerman
Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer
Rich Warren
Rich Warren
Recording Engineer

Lyrics

John Henry was about two days old
Sittin' on his papa's knee
He picked up a hammer, a little piece of steel
Cried "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me
Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me"
Captain, he said to John Henry
"I'm gonna bring that steam drill around
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
I'm gonna whop that steel on down, down, down
Whop that steel on down
I'm gonna whop that steel on down, down, down
Whop that steel on down"
John Henry said to his captain
"Lord, a man ain't nothing but a man
But before I let your steam drill beat me down
I'd die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord
Die with a hammer in my hand
I'd die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord
Die with a hammer in my hand"
John Henry said to his shaker
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
I'm swinging thirty pounds from my hips on down
Just listen to the cold steel ring, Lord, Lord
Listen to that cold steel ring
You can listen to that cold steel ring, Lord, Lord
Listen to that cold steel ring"
The man that invented the steam drill
He thought he was mighty fine
But John Henry drove him fifteen feet
The steam drill only made nine, Lord, Lord
The steam drill only made nine
Yeah, the steam drill only made nine, Lord, Lord
The steam drill only made nine
John Henry hammered in the mountain
His hammer was striking fire
He worked so hard, he broke his poor heart
He laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lord
He laid down his hammer and he died
He laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lord
Laid down his hammer and he died
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Polly Ann
John Henry took sick and he went to his bed
But Polly Ann drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
Yeah, Polly Ann drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
John Henry had a little baby
You could hold him in the palm of your hand
The last words I heard that poor boy say
"My daddy was a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord
My daddy was a steel-driving man
Yeah, my daddy was a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord
My daddy was a steel-driving man"
Well, every Monday morning
When the bluebird begin to sing
You can hear John Henry a mile or more
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring
Written by: Bob Gibson, Etta Baker, J Baird, Pd Traditional, Robert L. Camp
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