Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Our Native Daughters
Performer
Rhiannon Giddens
Fiddle
Amythyst Kiah
Vocals
Jamie Dick
Drums
Dirk Powell
Acoustic Guitar
Jason "Number One" Sypher
Bass Guitar
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Amythyst Kiah
Songwriter
Allison Russell
Songwriter
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
John Henry had a woman
Polly Ann, Polly Ann
John Henry had a woman
Polly Ann, Polly Ann
[Verse 2]
When John was sick, Polly drove steel
Like a man, like a man
When John was sick, Polly drove steel
Like a man, Lord, like a man
[Verse 3]
"Polly can you lift that hammer?"
"Yes I can, Yes I can"
"I can swing it, I can strike it"
"Harder than any man can"
[Verse 4]
When Polly had a small baby
On her knee, on her knee
Grabbed a hammer in her left hand
"Ain't no one as strong as me"
[Verse 5]
This little hammer killed John Henry
Won't kill me, won't kill me
This little hammer killed your daddy
Throw it down and we'll be free
Written by: Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah