More About John Henry - Randy Kohrs: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

More About John Henry

37

Bluegrass

More About John Henry was released on January 12, 2010 by Rural Rhythm as a part of the album Quicksand

Song Details

Release DateJanuary 12, 2010

LabelRural Rhythm

LanguageEnglish

Melodicness

Acousticness

Valence

Danceability

Energy

BPM

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Randy Kohrs

Vocals

Adam Steffey

Mandolin

Anne McCrary

Harmony Vocals

Chris Wood

Drums

Clay Hess

Guitar

Regina McCrary

Harmony Vocals

Scott Vestal

Banjo

Tim Crouch

Fiddle

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Tom T. Hall

Songwriter

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Randy Kohrs

Producer

Lyrics

The Storytellers and I were doing a show down in Meridian, Mississippi

And these friends of mine came up and brought me this real old book about John Henry

And they told me if they let me read this old book, I'd probably write a song about it

And they did and I did and I call it "More About John Henry"

First of all, John Henry was a black man

He was born where the sun don't ever shine

He was six feet tall, he didn't know his own strength

But he did not swing a hammer all the time, of course he didn't

John Henry had some women on his mind

There was a woman 'cross the street named Poor Selma

Loved John Henry like a natural man

John Henry quit Poor Selma just like he was quitting work

He loved that stingaree of Julie Anne (and what is it?)

A stingaree is something else, you understand?

There was a man named Stacker Lee in Argenta

A little man with a big .44

You know he shot his woman down and took a shot at Poor Selma

But ol' Stacker won't be shooting anymore, he had to quit it

John Henry laid him dead on the floor

John Henry threw Stacker Lee in the river

Then he said, "I've got a say so to say"

He broke out in a song that was wrote by Blind Lemon

He said, "Julie Anne, I'm singing my say," He said, "I love you

But I do not like your lowdown ways"

Well, John Henry went to a conjuring woman

Said, "This misery ain't no way to live

Somebody's backdoor creeping on my pretty Julie Anne"

Conjure woman had a say so to give, she said, "John Henry

She said, "That's just the way things is"

Well, John Henry went to a hell bustin' man

Said, "I'm tormented deep in my soul"

Well, that hell buster prayed John Henry's sins away

And they tell me that the thunder did roll, sweet Jesus

What a frightening sight to behold

From that day on, John Henry was a changed man

All he did was just work all the time

Well, he worked 'til the muscles in his body gave out

Then he kept right on a-working in his mind, don't do it

'cause a man ain't supposed to work all the time

Julie Anne said, "John Henry, I love you"

Poor Selma said, "John Henry, you're my man"

Ruby said, "I'm gonna cook you up some greens and some lean meat

With corn bread in a four-foot pan, with lots of cracklings

But John Henry was a different kind of man

Well, they allow that hard work killed John Henry (hmm)

I'm gonna leave that allowing up to you (hmm)

Well, was he killed by hard work or was he killed by bad women?

Be sure that this ain't happening to you

Quit working when your day's work is through

For a man ain't supposed to work all the time

And you know, that's just the way things is

A stingaree is something else, you understand

Quit working when your your day's work is through

God bless you

Written by: Tom T. Hall

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