'John Henry' by Big Bill Broonzy - Original Lyrics

[appalachiablue]

- John Henry sung by Big Bill Broonzy (1893 -1958). Original Lyrics:

~ "John Henry said to his captain,
"Now, a man ain't nothing but a man.
Before I'd let your steel drill beat me down
I will die with that hammer in my hand.
Yes, I’ll die with that hammer in my hand.
I declare I’ll die with the hammer in my hand, my Lord,
Die with that hammer in my hand."

John Henry said to his *shaker,
"Now man, why don't you sing?
I’m shakin 12 pounds from my hip on down
Can’t you hear that cold steel ….
Boy, don’t you hear that cold steel ring?
Now don’t you hear that cold steel ring?
Boy, don’t you hear that cold steel ring?

John Henry went down that railroad track
With a 12-pound hammer by his side
Yes, he went down the track but he never came back
'Cause he laid down his hammer and he ……
Yes, he laid down his hammer and he died
I declare, he laid down his hammer and he ……
Yes, he laid down his hammer and he died

John Henry hammered in that mountain
And that mountain was so high
The last words that I heard that poor boy say
"Give me a cool drink of water before I …….
Give me a cool drink of water before I die.
Give me a cool drink of water before I …….
Give me a cool drink of water before I die."

John Henry had a little woman
And the dress that she wore was red
And the last words that I heard that little girl say, she said,
"I‘m going where John Henry fell dead
Yes, I ‘m going where John Henry fell dead.
I declare I ‘m going where John Henry fell ….
Yes, I‘m going where John Henry fell dead."

John Henry was a little baby boy
And he held him in the palm of the hand
And the last words that I know that poor boy said,
"I’m gonna be a steel driving man,
I’m gonna be a little steel driving man,
I’m gonna be a steel driving man." ~
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- WILLIAM LEE CONLEY BROONZY, b. June 26, 1893, served in the army in 1918- 1919 before moving to Chicago in 1920, where 6 years later he made his recording debut as guitar accompanist to African American blues singers. Later he became a singer himself, & by 1940 was recognized as one of the best-selling blues recording artists. He recorded more than 300 songs during almost 30 years, the most famous - "All By Myself", "Mississippi River Blues", or "Black, Brown & White". His NYC concert debut was made at Carnegie Hall in 1938 & he visited Europe in 1951 where he soon became popular across the continent. At the height of his popularity his vocal effectiveness was reduced by a lung operation and he died of cancer on Aug. 15, 1958. ("John Henry" song arranged by Broonzy).
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- JOHN HENRY STATUE outside the town of Talcott in Summers County, West Virginia. - American folk hero.

- JOHN HENRY is an American folk hero. An African American, he is said to have worked as a "steel-driving man"—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel. The story of John Henry is told in a classic blues folk song, which exists in many versions, & has been the subject of numerous stories, plays, books, & novels. According to legend, John Henry's prowess as a steel-driver was measured in a race against a steam-powered rock drilling machine, a race that he won only to die in victory with hammer in hand as his heart gave out from stress. Various locations, including Big Bend Tunnel in WVa., Lewis Tunnel in Va., & Coosa Mt. Tunnel in Ala., have been suggested as the site of the contest... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)