John Henry
Hugh Laurie Lyrics
John Henry was about three days old,
Sittin' on his papa's knee.
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel;
Said, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord.
Hammer's gonna be the death of me."
The captain said to John Henry
"Gonna bring that steam drill 'round.
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.
Gonna whop that steel on down. Down,
Down.
John Henry told his captain,
"A man ain't nothin' but a man,
But before I let your steam drill beat me
Down,
I'd die with a hammer in my hand. Lord,
Lord.
I'd dies with a hammer in my hand."
John Henry said to his shaker,
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
I'm throwin' thirty pounds from my hips on
Down.
Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lord, Lord.
Listen to that cold steel ring."
The man that invented the stream drill
Thought he was mighty fine,
But John Henry made fifteen feet;
The steam drill only made nine. Lord, Lord.
The steam drill only made nine.
John Henry hammered in the mountain
His hammer was striking fire.
But he worked so hard, he broke his poor
Heart.
He laid down his hammer and he died. Lord,
Lord.
He laid down his hammer and he died.
John Henry had a little woman.
Her name was Polly Ann.
John Henry took sick and went to his bed.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man. Lord,
Lord.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man.
John Henry had a little baby.
You could hold him in the palm of your
Hand.
The last words I heard that poor boy say,
"My daddy was steel-driving man. Lord,
Lord.
My daddy was a steel-driving."
Well, every Monday morning
When the bluebirds begin to sing.
You can hear John Henry a mile or more.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Lord, Lord.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM LEE CONLEY BROONZY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Hugh Laurie is an English actor and comedian. Originally part of Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, he found fame playing various roles in the classic British comedy TV series "Blackadder." He is perhaps more famous for the legendary TV sketch show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" where he performed with his Cambridge University chum, Stephen Fry. Since then he has appeared in various films (Maybe Baby, Girl from Rio, Flight of the Phoenix, Stuart Little) and television shows, and has done some theatre work in London's West End. Read Full BioHugh Laurie is an English actor and comedian. Originally part of Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, he found fame playing various roles in the classic British comedy TV series "Blackadder." He is perhaps more famous for the legendary TV sketch show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" where he performed with his Cambridge University chum, Stephen Fry. Since then he has appeared in various films (Maybe Baby, Girl from Rio, Flight of the Phoenix, Stuart Little) and television shows, and has done some theatre work in London's West End. Mr. Laurie was rumored to be a top contender for the role of "Doctor Who," (prior to David Tennant getting the part), however he was cast as Dr. Gregory House in the hit FOX medical drama "House, MD". Songfacts reports that Laurie is also an enthusiastic and keen musician, playing the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, and saxophone. He has displayed his musical talents on several episodes of House, as well as on previous shows he starred in, such as A Bit Of Fry & Laurie. In 2010 Laurie played piano as a special guest on Meatloaf 's track If I Can't Have You.
After signing a contract with Warner Bros, Laurie released a blues album Let Them Talk , which was released initially in France on April 18, 2011 and later in the UK on May 9th.
He has written one novel, "The Gun Seller," and another one, "The Paper Soldier," is tentatively scheduled for September 2009. Mr. Laurie has some musical talent, notably the piano and mouth trumpet (he can make convincing trumpet sounds using just his mouth). He played '20s numbers on the piano in the TV series "Jeeves and Wooster" (again with Stephen Fry) in addition to some original comic songs in "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie." He is currently a member of "Band from TV" with several other TV personalities. He is married with children, although he has become somewhat of an absentee father due to his work on American television while his family stays in London.
After signing a contract with Warner Bros, Laurie released a blues album Let Them Talk , which was released initially in France on April 18, 2011 and later in the UK on May 9th.
He has written one novel, "The Gun Seller," and another one, "The Paper Soldier," is tentatively scheduled for September 2009. Mr. Laurie has some musical talent, notably the piano and mouth trumpet (he can make convincing trumpet sounds using just his mouth). He played '20s numbers on the piano in the TV series "Jeeves and Wooster" (again with Stephen Fry) in addition to some original comic songs in "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie." He is currently a member of "Band from TV" with several other TV personalities. He is married with children, although he has become somewhat of an absentee father due to his work on American television while his family stays in London.
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Emilaremi
John Henry had a little woman
And the dress she wore was red
She walked down the track,
She never looked back
I'm going where John Henry fell dead
I'm going where John Henry fell dead
John Henry had another woman
And her name was Polly Anne
John Henry was taken sick
And he had to go to bed
Polly Anne drove steel like a man
Polly Anne drove steel like a man
John Henry told his little woman
Honey fix my supper soon
I got ninety-nine miles
Of track I wanna line back
I'm gonna line 'em by the light of the moon
I'm gonna line 'em by the light of the moon
John Henry said to his captain
You know a man ain't nothin' but a man
I'm bettin' right now you wont beat me down
I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand
I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand
John Henry hammered in the mountain
Until his hammer caught on fire
The last word's I heard that the poor boy said
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Emilaremi
John Henry had a little woman
And the dress she wore was red
She walked down the track,
She never looked back
I'm going where John Henry fell dead
I'm going where John Henry fell dead
John Henry had another woman
And her name was Polly Anne
John Henry was taken sick
And he had to go to bed
Polly Anne drove steel like a man
Polly Anne drove steel like a man
John Henry told his little woman
Honey fix my supper soon
I got ninety-nine miles
Of track I wanna line back
I'm gonna line 'em by the light of the moon
I'm gonna line 'em by the light of the moon
John Henry said to his captain
You know a man ain't nothin' but a man
I'm bettin' right now you wont beat me down
I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand
I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand
John Henry hammered in the mountain
Until his hammer caught on fire
The last word's I heard that the poor boy said
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
CoolioChicken
Man oh Man, do I love this song. I can't stop listening to it! I have the CD and I still went out of my way to listen to it here on Youtube! I am obsessed, and proud to be so.
Shine Shines
love this... Hugh Laurie is a very talented musicans. He did a documentary, Chasing the Bllues I believe was the name of it. He was in Luchenbach Tx in a pickin' cirlcle. He plays a guitar as well as he plays piano.
Karla nicol
lo amo 😍
John Henry
Somebody I never meant or knew told me too listen to this today I have know idea why? I
Love it though
Artur Zap
rewelacja na mily wieczor
Sophie Morin
It was even better live :D
Howesenberg Films
Who else feels like dressing smartly just to sit in dive bar with a glass of whiskey?
Brett Kelley
Music like this demands drinking by the bottle.
matheus oliveira
The of the doc about the history of jazz , blues and soul and music is called : Hugh Laurie: Dawn by the River , with Hugh like the principal presenter ! I recommend that to all of y'all's, is a very nice documentary !
Ps: Sorry for my English, I'm Brazilian ! Have enjoy the show!