John Henry
Hall Tom T Lyrics

First of all John Henry was a black man
John Henry's race was Black

He was born where the sun don't ever shine
John Henry was born in a place that is always dark

He was six feet tall he didn't know his own strength
John Henry was unaware of his own physical strength despite being six feet tall

But he did not swing the hammer all the time
John Henry didn't always swing a hammer

Of course he didn't John Henry had some women on his mind.
John Henry's focus was on women and not just on swinging hammers

There was a woman cross the street named Poor Selma
Poor Selma lived across the street from John Henry

Loved John Henry like a natural man
Poor Selma loved John Henry with an innate passion

John Henry quit Poor Selma just like he was quitting work
John Henry left Poor Selma just like he left his job

He loved that stinger of Julie Anne
John Henry was in love with the unique qualities of Julie Anne

And what is it a stinger is something else you understand.
A stinger is something unique and hard to describe

There was a man named Stacker Lee in Argenta a little man with a big 44
There was a little man in Argenta named Stacker Lee who carried a big 44 gun

You know he shot his woman down and took a shot at Poor Selma
Stacker Lee killed his woman and attempted to harm Poor Selma

But ol' Stacker won't be shooting anymore
John Henry put an end to Stacker Lee's violent ways

He had to quit it John Henry laid him dead on the floor.
John Henry took down Stacker Lee

John Henry threw Stacker Lee in the river
John Henry disposed of Stacker Lee's body in the river

Then he said I've got a say so to say
John Henry had something to say

He broke out in a song that was wrote by Blind Leonard
John Henry sang a song written by Blind Leonard

He said Julie Anne I'm singing my say
John Henry sang to Julie Anne

He said I love you but I do not like your lowdown ways.
John Henry loved Julie Anne but didn't approve of her behavior

Well, John Henry went to a conjuring woman
John Henry consulted a conjuring woman

Said this misery ain't no way to live
John Henry expressed his dissatisfaction with his current situation

Somebody's back door creeping on my pretty Julie Anne
John Henry believed someone was sneaking around with Julie Anne

Conjure woman had a say so to give
The conjuring woman had advice to offer

She said, "John Henry." she said, "That's just the way things is."
The conjuring woman acknowledged that John Henry's situation was just how things were

Well, John Henry went to a hell busting man
John Henry visited a man who could exorcise demons

Said I'm tormented deep in my soul
John Henry expressed his deep inner turmoil

Well, that hell buster prayed John Henry's sins away
The hell buster prayed for forgiveness for John Henry's sins

And they tell me that the thunder did roll
Rumors suggest that the thunder rolled after the prayers

From that day on John Henry was a changed man
John Henry was transformed by the experience

All he did was just work all the time
John Henry became all-consumed by work

Well, he worked till the muscles in his body gave out
John Henry worked until he was physically exhausted

Then he kept right on a working in his mind
Even when his body was spent, John Henry continued working in his mind

Don't do it cause a man ain't supposed to work all the time.
John Henry believed it was not healthy for a man to work constantly

Julie Anne said John Henry I love you
Julie Anne professed her love for John Henry

Poor Selma said John Henry you're my man
Poor Selma called John Henry her man

Ruby said I'm gonna cook ye up some greens and some lean meat
Ruby offered to cook John Henry a meal of vegetables and lean meat

With corn bread in a four foot pan
The meal was to be cooked in a large pan

With lots of cracklings but John Henry was a different kinda man.
Even though John Henry was offered a good meal, he had become consumed by work and couldn't enjoy it

Well, they allow that hard work killed John Henry,
It is believed that John Henry died due to overworking

I'm gonna leave that allowing up to you,
The story of John Henry's death is open to interpretation

Well, was he killed by hard work or was he killed by bad women
It is possible that John Henry's death was caused by either overworking or his relationships with women

Be sure that this ain't happening to you.
The listener is advised to lead a balanced life and not fall into the same fate as John Henry

Quit working when your day's work work is through
It's important to stop working when the job is done

Cause a man ain't supposed to work all the time
According to John Henry, it's not healthy for a man to work constantly

And ain't that just the way the things is
This is how life is

A stinger is something else you understand
A stinger is a unique quality that may be hard to define

Quit working when your your day's work is through God bless you
John Henry reiterates the importance of balancing work and rest