Dave Dudley is best-known for his trucker songs including "Six Days on the Road" and "Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun". His duet with Tom T. Hall called "Day Drinking" demonstrated that he was not limited to trucking songs. He is one of the best-known singers of the truck-driving era in country music and was one of the icons in this category.
Dave was born in 1928 in Spencer, Wisconsin. He had a short career as a semi-professional baseball player. After he suffered an arm injury he was no longer able to play baseball. He then decided to pursue a career in country music. He was one of the earliest artists to record for National Recording Corporation on the NRC label.
He first appeared on the Country charts in 1961 with the song "Maybe I Do," released by Vee Records. He later moved to Golden Wing Records. Two years later, in 1963, the label released the single "Six Days on the Road". In 1963, Dudley moved on to Mercury records. Dave Dudley continued to have success into the 1970s. He continued to record for Mercury Records.
In the 1980s, Dave Dudley continued to record, but not as much as he once had. He remained popular in concert. In total, Dudley recorded more than 70 albums. However, he did not manage to reclaim his past success, and neither his single "Where's that Truck?", recorded with DJ Charlie Douglas, nor the track "Dave Dudley, American Trucker", recorded in 2002 in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, helped revive his career.
Dudley died on December 22, 2003 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Wisconsin.
John Henry
Dave Dudley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His mommy looked down at John Henry and say
Well Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man Lord lord
Well Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man
John Henry he said to his Captain he said Captain why don't you learn to swing
I'm drivin' forty-nine pounds from my hip on down
I love to hear that cold steel ring Lord Lord I love to hear that cold steel ring
[ guitar ]
John Henry he took sick and he had gone to bed
Polly drove the steel like a man Lord Lord but Polly drove the steel like a man
John Henry went up on that mountain had that steam hammer by his side
Well beat that drill till the end of the line
He laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord he laid down his hammer and he cried
[ guitar ]
John Henry drove the steel on that mountain till that hammer caught on fire
Well the very last words I'd hear ol' John Henry say
Cool glass of water I'm gonna die Lord Lord a cool glass of water I'm gonna die
Well they bury John Henry in the graveyard they laid him six feet under the sand
Everytime a freight train go a rollin' on by
They say yonder lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord well yonder lies a steel drivin' man
The song "John Henry" by Dave Dudley tells the story of a legendary African American folk hero, John Henry, who was born as a small boy but grew up to become a steel driver. As a child, his mother predicted that he would become a steel driver and indeed, he did. John Henry loved to hear the sound of the steel as he swung and drove it into the rock on the mountain. He worked very hard and hardly anyone could keep up with him.
However, his job as a steel driver was threatened by the new steam drill, which could accomplish the job faster and with less effort. John Henry decided to challenge the steam drill to a showdown, determined to prove that human strength and skill were still superior to technological advancements. Unfortunately, after beating the drill, John Henry collapsed and died of exhaustion. His death elevated him to legendary status, as he is remembered as a symbol of American industrial progress, human strength, and the struggle of the working class.
The song is a tribute to the American labor movement, the African American workforce, and the notion that skill and hard work will always triumph over machines. The strumming of the guitar and the repetition of the refrain, "Lord Lord," add to the song's emotional appeal and serve as an ode to the iconic blue-collar worker.
Line by Line Meaning
When John Henry was just a little bitty boy no bigger than the palm of your hand
When John Henry was a very young child, he was extremely small and could fit in the palm of someone's hand.
His mommy looked down at John Henry and say
John Henry's mother looked down at him and spoke to him.
Well Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man Lord lord
John Henry's mother predicted that he would become a steel driver man.
John Henry he said to his Captain he said Captain why don't you learn to swing
John Henry asked his captain why he didn't learn how to work as a steel driver.
I'm drivin' forty-nine pounds from my hip on down
John Henry used his hip to drive steel, exerting massive amounts of force and effort.
I love to hear that cold steel ring Lord Lord I love to hear that cold steel ring
John Henry expressed his love for hearing the sound of steel being struck and driven.
[ guitar ]
Musical interlude
John Henry had a pretty little woman and her name was Polly Ann
John Henry had a beautiful partner named Polly Ann.
John Henry he took sick and he had gone to bed
John Henry became ill and had to go to bed.
Polly drove the steel like a man Lord Lord but Polly drove the steel like a man
Polly took over as the steel driver and worked just as hard as if she were a man.
John Henry went up on that mountain had that steam hammer by his side
John Henry went to the mountain and brought a steam hammer with him.
Well beat that drill till the end of the line
John Henry worked hard, continuing to strike his hammer until he finished the job.
He laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord he laid down his hammer and he cried
John Henry became too exhausted to continue and had to stop working, feeling sad and defeated.
[ guitar ]
Musical interlude
John Henry drove the steel on that mountain till that hammer caught on fire
John Henry worked hard driving the steel on the mountain until the hammer he was using overheated and caught on fire.
Well the very last words I'd hear ol' John Henry say
Before John Henry passed away, the last words he spoke were:
Cool glass of water I'm gonna die Lord Lord a cool glass of water I'm gonna die
John Henry expressed his desire for a cool glass of water before he knew that he was going to pass away.
[ guitar ]
Musical interlude
Well they bury John Henry in the graveyard they laid him six feet under the sand
John Henry was buried in a graveyard, with his body laid down six feet beneath the sand.
Everytime a freight train go a rollin' on by
Whenever a freight train passes by,
They say yonder lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord well yonder lies a steel drivin' man
People reference John Henry as a steel driving man when talking about the area where he was buried.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind