Furry's style of blues was in many ways typical of the songsters who operated in and around Memphis in the 1920s, for whom the value of a song was the story it told, and who tended to back their words with hypnotic repetitive riffs and subtle slide guitars. Furry Lewis's soft voice and quick slide work were particularly effective in this style. He recorded many successful records in the late '20s including "Kassie Jones",Billy Lyons, Stack-O-Lee and Judge Harsh Blues (later called Good morning judge).
This success was limited to the race records of the time, cheap sides by black musicians for black customers. Furry received neither fame nor fortune for his efforts. In 1962, however, he was recorded by the folklorist Adrian Mitchell and his fortunes began to pick up. Before he died in 1981 Furry opened twice for the Rolling Stones, played on Johnny Carson's Tonight show and had a part in a Burt Reynolds movie, some justice for this great player of the blues and his inimitable slide guitar style.
Joni Mitchell's song, "Furry Sings the Blues" (on her Hejira album), is about Lewis. According to Wikipedia, Lewis despised the Mitchell song and demanded she pay him royalties.
John Henry
Furry Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cryin', "That Big Bend tunnel on that YMV, it's gon' be the death of me, 'fore I die
Lord, it's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord, says it's gon'"
When John Henry hammered in the mountain 'til the head of his hammer caught fire
He cried, "Y'all just pick 'em up and let 'em down again
Just give me one cool drink of water 'fore I die, Lord, Lord
Just give me one cool drink of water."
Spoken: You know, one time John Henry had a job to do, one time, Red
He's the best at it, people say that awful day will surely come, that's funny
how it would make it
Said I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead
When the women in the West heard of John Henry's death, they couldn't sleep at home in their beds
Some was dressed in white, some was dressed in red, said
"Take me where John Henry fell dead, baby, please take me (guitar finishes line)
I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead, baby", he said, "Lord knows I'm goin' where
John Henry fell dead, dead, I'm goin' where John Henry" (guitar finishes line)
John Henry told his captain one day, "You can give me my time
I can make more money on that C & O than I can on that IC line, Lord knows, than I can"
Spoken: You know, one time John Henry had a piker, he had to hold a little piece of steel
just 'bout that tall, he told his piker to hold that steel, he said
What's gonna happen?", Booker, he says, "I'm goin' down, I'm gonna drive some steel today."
I'm goin' where John Henry sat all dead
John Henry told his piker, "I 'clare you better pray
If I miss this steel with this 10 pound mawl, tomorrow gon' be your buryin' day, goddamn, haha
The lyrics of “John Henry” by Furry Lewis highlight a legendary folk hero who was an African-American railway worker that built railroads during the late 1800s. The song starts with John Henry's mother singing a lullaby to him, warning that building the Big Bend tunnel on the Young Men’s Valley Railroad, the spot where John Henry would eventually die, was going to be the death of him. In the next verse, John Henry is already working on the tunnel and becomes proud of his skill as a steel-driver. His hammer, however, catches fire from the continual striking, but yet he persists as spectators pick up and put down steel for him despite his call for water. He then dies, with a final wish for a cool drink of water. The song ends with the women of the West, who have heard of his death, dressing in red, and white, and following his example of hard work.
The song is a narrative of a legend deeply rooted in the history of America. It is a tribute to John Henry’s mighty strength and determination in the face of hardship and labor exploitation. It portrays him as a man who will not be defeated by the machinery of the railroad industry and represents an unattainable ideal of a race that persevered and perseveres towards fulfillment. Different interpretations suggest that John Henry stood for the worker’s cause, especially the post-Civil War repressed black community. His story of resistance was therefore used as a rallying cry for workers’ rights and labor movements in America during a time of great social and economic turbulence.
Line by Line Meaning
John Henry was a little baby boy, settin' at home on his mother's knee
John Henry was just an infant sitting on his mother's lap
Cryin', 'That Big Bend tunnel on that YMV, it's gon' be the death of me, 'fore I die
Lord, it's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord, says it's gon'
Even as a young child, John Henry was afraid of the dangerous job of working on the Big Bend tunnel and felt like it might lead to his death
When John Henry hammered in the mountain 'til the head of his hammer caught fire
He cried, 'Y'all just pick 'em up and let 'em down again
Just give me one cool drink of water 'fore I die, Lord, Lord
Just give me one cool drink of water.'
John Henry worked tirelessly until even the head of his hammer was burning from the heat, and he asked for just a sip of water to quench his thirst
Said I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead
The artist of the song (presumably Furry Lewis himself) is planning to visit the spot where John Henry died
When the women in the West heard of John Henry's death, they couldn't sleep at home in their beds
Some was dressed in white, some was dressed in red, said
'Take me where John Henry fell dead, baby, please take me (guitar finishes line)
I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead, baby', he said, 'Lord knows I'm goin' where
John Henry fell dead, dead, I'm goin' where John Henry' (guitar finishes line)
Even women in faraway places were moved by John Henry's death and wanted to visit the spot where it happened, regardless of the color of their clothing
John Henry told his captain one day, 'You can give me my time
I can make more money on that C & O than I can on that IC line, Lord knows, than I can'
John Henry told his boss that he could earn a better wage working on the C & O railroad than on the IC line
John Henry told his piker, 'I 'clare you better pray
If I miss this steel with this 10 pound mawl, tomorrow gon' be your buryin' day, goddamn, haha'
John Henry warned his assistant (piker) to pray for his life and safety because if he didn't hit the steel correctly with his heavy hammer, someone would die
Contributed by Emily E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mississippisheik1
This is the song my grampa used to sing to me when I was a kid visiting my grandparents here in Danville, VA. It's ironic that this was recorded in Sun Studios. I had the opportunity hear Sam Phillips son, Knox, at a Howlin' Wolf symposium at UNC along with co-speaker Pete Guarlnik and Knox explained that his Dad was able to get the very best out of all the artists when they came in Sun. This is testimony right here. Great recording, thank you
@jimwesson7896
it may have been released on cd in 92 but I bought "shake'em on down" (the silver album) as a double LP in 72 for $0.35 and wore it out.
@ruthdixon7807
furry was born in 1893, received his first good guitar from "father of the blues" W.C handy, lost a leg while hoboing, made distinctive memphis blues recordings in the 1920s, swept the city's streets for decades and was rediscovered by white blues fans in the 1960s - when he enjoyed a second career opening for the rolling stones and appearing in burt reynolds films.
@nancy7167
ok im from memphis and this is it
@Mockingbird_Lane
Picture gives me chills.
@MyMoppet52
"John Henry" long version. The vocals of these songs show how much Furry Lewis' voice had improved over the years he was "forgotten". He was found cleaning streets in Memphis during the blues revival of the early '60's. He came back sounding more mellow, more relaxed, and enjoyed performing more than ever. (He was much like Mississippi in this respect.) This 'John Henry' is from the "Shake 'Em Down' " cd which was released in 1992 but was recorded in 1961, shortly after Furry Lewis was 'rediscovered'. ENJOY!!!
@MyMoppet52
@edw39I Thank you so much for updating me. I really appreciate the fact that listeners help out with my mistakes. I've removed "Live" from the description and tag. I got two records mixed up and I'm very sorry because I want to be accurate. I think this long version of John Henry is wonderful & does have wonderful sound. Thanks for commenting & please jump in at any time when you see a needed correction. Thanks again, Moppet (Barbara)
@idrissaaw6947
Léélé américain
@celestialroad
just 1 cool drink of water before i die
@idrissaaw6947
C'est le léélé américain