album cover
John Henry
14
Singer/Songwriter
John Henry was released on January 1, 1958 by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings as a part of the album Richard Dyer-Bennet #5
album cover
Release DateJanuary 1, 1958
LabelSmithsonian Folkways Recordings
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM142

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Richard Dyer-Bennet
Richard Dyer-Bennet
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Richard Dyer-Bennet
Richard Dyer-Bennet
Songwriter

Lyrics

Now when John Henry was a little baby
Sittin' on his mammy's knee
He took a piece of steel in his right hand
Said, "Steel be the death of me, Lord God
Steel be the death of me"
Some say he was born in Texas
Some say he was born in Maine
But I say he was born in North Carolina
He was a steel-driving man, Lord God
He was a steel-driving man
John Henry drove steel on the Southern
Drove it on the CB&Q
On the old Rock Island and the Santa Fe
Baltimore, Ohio, too, Lord God
Baltimore, Ohio, too
John Henry had a little woman
Dress she wore was green
She used to make a trip to the mountain every day
Just to hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord God
To hear John Henry's hammer ring
Now the captain said to John Henry
"I'm gonna bring my steam drill around"
John Henry said, "I'd rather be dead
Than let a steam drill beat me down, Lord God
Let a steam drill beat me down"
John Henry said to his shaker
"Shaker, you'd better pray
'Cause if I miss this six foot of steel
Tomorrow'll be your burying day, Lord God
Tomorrow'll be your burying day"
John Henry was hammerin' on the mountain
His hammer was striking fire
He hammered so hard that he broke his poor back
He laid down his hammer and he died, Lord God
He laid down his hammer and he died
Now they took John Henry from the mountain
And buried him down in the sand
And every locomotive comes roaring by
Says, "There lies a steel-driving man, Lord God
There lies a steel-driving man
There lies a steel-driving man, Lord God
There lies a steel-driving man"
Written by: Richard Dyer-Bennet
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