John Henry
"22" & Group Lyrics

He took a bullet in a Georgia field
In a moment of heated disagreement, he was shot by a drunk man, resulting in a life-altering injury.

When an argument got out of hand
The disagreement escalated beyond control, leading to the tragic event.

And a drunken man pulled a 45
Under the influence, a man retrieved a .45 caliber firearm.

And shot his childhood friend
He aimed the gun and fired at his long-time companion.

He carried that slug for 50 years
For half a century, he bore the physical reminder of the bullet's impact.

Deep in his neck an inch from his spine
The bullet embedded itself deeply near the spine, just an inch away from causing fatal damage.

Should have died in that field, but he didn’t
Despite the grave nature of his injury, he miraculously survived the incident.

So he took it as a sign
Interpreting his survival as a significant message or omen.

He was living life on borrowed time
Aware that his continued existence defied expectations and that his days were numbered.

But you can’t escape the bottom line
Regardless of his situation, he couldn't avoid the ultimate truth or outcome.

I was right by his side on Sunday evening
Personally accompanying him in his final moments on a Sunday evening.

When the past caught up with John Henry Weaving
At that moment, the consequences of his prior actions caught up with him.

He hit the road and drifted a while
He embarked on a journey, wandering aimlessly for a period of time.

‘Till he settled down in Arkansas
Eventually, he found stability and established a home in Arkansas.

And he took a wife and she had a child
He entered into a marital union, and together they had a child.

And Uncle Sam sent him off to war
The government drafted him into military service and deployed him to war.

He saved a life on Pork Chop hill
During combat on a hill named Pork Chop, he rescued an individual, preventing their demise.

It was rainin’ lead when he dragged that man
In the midst of heavy gunfire, he courageously pulled the endangered person to safety.

And when he came back home he’d found the lord
Upon his return from war, he discovered faith and committed himself to religious teachings.

And he preached on the street about god’s plan
He actively shared his newfound beliefs, speaking publicly in the streets about the divine purpose.

Had his share of troubles and tribulations
He encountered numerous difficulties and challenges throughout his life.

Coincidences and complications
Both unlikely alignments of events and complex issues arose in his path.

But in the end the past returned
Ultimately, the consequences of his earlier choices caught up with him.

That bullet did its job
The purpose of the bullet, to inflict harm and alter his destiny, was achieved.

So we gather today to celebrate
Presently, we come together to commemorate and honor his life.

A man who did his level best
A man who consistently exerted his utmost effort and commitment.

To live each day with meaning
Dedicating himself to living a purposeful and significant existence.

And to rise to the test
Challenging himself and demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.