One of the last links to the prewar African-American string band tradition,… Read Full Bio ↴One of the last links to the prewar African-American string band tradition, banjo player Odell Thompson was born on August 9, 1911, the son of John Arch Thompson, who was also a pretty fair banjo player. Thompson was raised in the northeastern part of Orange County in North Carolina, and when he began playing banjo, he absorbed his father's traditional repertoire, and was soon playing in string bands for square dances and frolics with his cousin, fiddler Joe Thompson (December 9, 1918 - February 20, 2012). Odell took up guitar (he also played a little fiddle) and began playing the blues in the 1920s, but continued to play banjo in the old style in string bands with Joe until the 1940s, when pressure from bluegrass and other newer musical forms made their approach all but obsolete. In the early '70s, folklorist Kip Lornell discovered the duo and convinced them to start playing the old music again, which led to a new career of festivals and concerts for Thompson and his cousin. Odell played banjo in the old clawhammer style (a down-stroking technique that is known by several names, including frailing, thumping, and drop-thumb) on a fretless resonator banjo, and his sound had a wonderfully wild and archaic feel. Odell's banjo, coupled with Joe's ragged, swerving fiddle style, effectively re-created the feel of black string bands from the 1800s, and the duo's performances were literally living history lessons. Joe and Odell had just completed a set at Merlefest on April 28, 1994, when Odell Thompson was struck and killed by a car while crossing a road outside the festival grounds. He was 83. His passing broke the last link to the black string band tradition as a living, breathing art form.

In 1989 Joe And Odell Thompson recorded “Old-Time Music from the Carolina Piedmont” for the Global Village Music label.

John Henry
Joe And Odell Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints

Take this hammer carry it to the Captain, Tell him why I'm gone
Take this hammer carry it to the Captain, Tell him I'm goin' home

I don't want your cold iron shackles around my leg
I don't want your cold iron shackles around my leg

Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints

I'm a long way from Colorado, A long way from my home
Get the hammer that killed John Henry, Won't kill me no more
Gimme the hammer that killed John Henry, 'cause it won't kill me
Gimme the hammer that killed John Henry, 'cause it won't kill me

Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints

Take this hammer carry it to the Captain, Tell him I'm goin' home
Take this hammer carry it to the Captain, Tell him why I'm gone
I'm a wanted man with the Captain
I'm a wanted man in the shackles
I'm a wanted man in the shackles
I'm a wanted man

Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Oh oh

I killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Oh oh

Overall Meaning

The song "John Henry" by Joe and Odell Thompson tells the story of John Henry, a legendary African American folk hero who worked as a steel-driving man, pounding steel into rock to blast tunnels for trains. He was known for his strength and endurance, and became famous for racing against a steam-powered machine to see who could drill through a mountain faster. John Henry won the race, but died soon after from exhaustion. The lyrics of the song ask the question "Who killed John Henry?" and offer several possible answers, including "the battle of sinners and saints" and even the singer himself.

The line "Take this hammer carry it to the captain, tell him why I'm gone" suggests that the singer is a fellow worker of John Henry and is asking someone to deliver a message to their boss, explaining why he is leaving. The next line, "I don't want your cold iron shackles around my leg" indicates that the singer is trying to escape from a situation where he might be forced to work against his will, or held captive in some way. The final verse reveals that the singer is actually the one who killed John Henry, suggesting perhaps that the true cause of John Henry's death was not the physical exertion of the race, but the oppression and exploitation he faced as a black laborer in the segregated south.

Line by Line Meaning

Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Asking a rhetorical question about the person responsible for killing John Henry during the battle between good and evil.

Take this hammer carry it to the Captain, Tell him why I'm gone
Requesting someone to take the hammer to the Captain and inform him about the singer leaving.

I don't want your cold iron shackles around my leg
Refusing to be restrained with metal chains on the singer's leg.

I'm a long way from Colorado, A long way from my home
Being far away from Colorado and the artist's place of residence.

Get the hammer that killed John Henry, Won't kill me no more
Asking for the hammer used to kill John Henry, as it will no longer have power over the artist.

Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Repeating the rhetorical question about the killer of John Henry.

Take this hammer carry it to the Captain, Tell him why I'm gone
Reiterating the request to take the hammer to the Captain and inform him about why the singer has left.

I'm a wanted man with the Captain
The Captain is seeking the artist and he is in danger of being arrested.

I'm a wanted man in the shackles
The artist is in danger of being restrained.

I'm a wanted man
The artist is a fugitive, being sought after.

Oh oh
Vocalizing a sound of surprise or realization.

I killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and saints
Finally revealing that the artist was the one who killed John Henry during the fight between good and evil.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOE BONAMASSA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS