His birth name was James Dixon, and he was born in Somerville, Texas, United States. He spent the latter part of his life performing and busking folk, blues and gospel music at Chicago's Maxwell Street flea market and at rapid-transit depots. In the '60s, he recorded two singles for his own Gray label including "Freedom Rider" backed with "Freedom Bus."
Gray's only album, 1973's The Singing Drifter was reissued on the Conjuroo record label in 2005. The re-issue producer was Cary Baker, who wrote the liner notes for the original Birch Records vinyl LP.
Gray died in Chicago, Illinois in September 1980, at the age of 74.
John Henry
Arvella Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Line a track and I can carry a jack, pick and shovel too, lord lord pick and shovel too
John Henry said to the captain, captain how that can be
Got forty nine men on your job, you hurry nobody but me, lord lord, hurry nobody but me
John Henry was a still driving man lord lord, Henry was a railroad man
When John Henry was sick and in his bad, she drove steel like a natural man, lord lord, she drove steel like a natural man
John Henry had a little wife and she began to sing
Said you don't have to worry as long as I can make this hammer ring, lord lord, as long as I can make this hammer ring
Well a peck woodpecker would woodpecker would make your head so red
I been working all the levee and the sun done by in my head, lord lord sun done by in my head
Says he where did you get your pretty little shoes woman, you dress so fine
Got the shoe off of Maxwell, I got to dress up a (?) lord lord, I got to dress up a (?) man
John Henry was a still driving man lord lord, Henry was a railroad man
John Henry went to his woman's house, told her to turn down her bed
Says he was sick and he had to lay down, he had a mighty hurtin' in his head, lord lord, mighty hurtin' in his head
Now John Henry died up in the mountain, they buried him in the clay
And the last words I heard him say Never let your woman have a way, lord lord, Never let your woman have a way
John Henry was a still driving man lord lord, Henry was a railroad man
Arvella Gray's song "John Henry" tells the story of a black railroad worker who was legendary for his strength and dedication to his work. The song begins with the foreman asking John Henry what he can do, and John Henry confidently replies that he can not only line a track but also carry a jack and use a pick and shovel. When the captain questions him, John Henry reminds him that he is the only one he can trust to do the job right - even though there are 49 other workers on the site.
As the song progresses, we learn more about John Henry's life. He is married to a woman named Polly Ann, who is just as hardworking as he is. When John Henry falls ill and cannot work, Polly Ann takes over for him, driving steel "like a natural man." Throughout the song, John Henry's strength and dedication to his work are emphasized, as is his legacy.
The song ends on a somewhat ominous note, with John Henry dying in the mountains and warning others not to let their women have their way. However, the overall message of the song seems to be one of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the foreman said to John Henry, he said what can you do?
The foreman asked John Henry about his skills and abilities.
John Henry said to the captain, captain how that can be
Got forty nine men on your job, you hurry nobody but me, lord lord, hurry nobody but me
John Henry questioned the captain about his workload and expressed his eagerness to work alone.
John Henry was a still driving man lord lord, Henry was a railroad man
John Henry was known for his strong work ethic and expertise in operating a steam drill.
John Henry had a little wife her name was Polly Ann
When John Henry was sick and in his bad, she drove steel like a natural man, lord lord, she drove steel like a natural man
John Henry's wife Polly Ann helped him with his work by driving steel as efficiently as he did.
John Henry had a little wife and she began to sing
Said you don't have to worry as long as I can make this hammer ring, lord lord, as long as I can make this hammer ring
Polly Ann assured John Henry that she could handle the workload and make the hammer ring.
Well a peck woodpecker would woodpecker would make your head so red
I been working all the levee and the sun done by in my head, lord lord sun done by in my head
John Henry talked about the physical strain of the job under the hot sun, likening it to a woodpecker's pecking that could turn one's head red.
Says he where did you get your pretty little shoes woman, you dress so fine
Got the shoe off of Maxwell, I got to dress up a (?) lord lord, I got to dress up a (?) man
John Henry admired Polly Ann's appearance and asked her where she got her shoes, to which she replied that she got them from Maxwell and that she had to dress up like a man.
John Henry went to his woman's house, told her to turn down her bed
Says he was sick and he had to lay down, he had a mighty hurtin' in his head, lord lord, mighty hurtin' in his head
John Henry went to his wife's house and asked her to prepare his bed as he was feeling unwell and had a severe headache.
Now John Henry died up in the mountain, they buried him in the clay
And the last words I heard him say Never let your woman have a way, lord lord, Never let your woman have a way
John Henry died while working in the mountains, and his last words were about not letting women have their way.
John Henry was a still driving man lord lord, Henry was a railroad man
John Henry was a respected and skilled worker in the railroad industry, known for his dedication and hard work.
Contributed by Camilla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@WeenieCampbell
For the lyrics to this song and many other blues lyrics visit https://weeniecampbell.com and https://weeniecampbell.com/wiki