John Henry
Odetta and Larry Lyrics
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I trust that fire you give as good
answer as I question, and with
a voice of love. Kind woman, if
I was to go up between heaven
and earth, out of the blue, drop
a grain of wheat over the acres,
and plow it with a cock feather,
At the next full moon, I tell her,
I made you measures:
Love to hear them.
Can't read. Not the black bible,
or the blue back spelling book,
haunt of that god, the alphabet.
But I can count the pulses of
your blood, listen for April in
the quail, show the way through
the constellations. Can't write,
love letters, in praise of what
I have to praise, or even a list
of what we need. But Virginia
is my page, the rivers spilling
over it my marks, when I take
breath, I'm given, in this hard
heavenly land, hover, and sing.
The lyrics to Odetta and Larry's song "John Henry" are actually not being described in these lines, but rather in a different song entirely. In these lyrics, the singer is addressing a kind woman and telling her that he trusts her completely, with a voice of love. He then poses a hypothetical question of whether she would marry him if he were to drop a grain of wheat between heaven and earth and plow it with a cock feather. In other words, he is saying that he loves her deeply and is willing to do anything for her.
The singer then tells the woman that he is unable to read or write, but he can still understand the world in different ways. He can count the pulses of her blood and listen for the sounds of nature around them, and he can show the way through the constellations. He uses Virginia as his page and marks it with the rivers that spill over it. He may not be able to write love letters or make lists of what they need, but he can still hover and sing in this hard heavenly land, given breath and life by the woman he loves.
Overall, these lyrics are a beautiful declaration of love and devotion. They show that love does not always have to be expressed through the written word, but can be understood through other senses and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look into your blue eyes,
I trust the passion and sincerity I see in your eyes, and I believe you can answer my questions and concerns with truth and love.
I trust that fire you give as good
I trust your passion and energy as a lover.
answer as I question, and with
You respond honestly and openly to my questions and concerns, with love and understanding.
a voice of love. Kind woman, if
You speak with love and compassion, and I respect you deeply. If I made a grand gesture, would you marry me?
I was to go up between heaven
If I were to do something impossible or daring,
and earth, out of the blue, drop
Such as dropping a single grain of wheat over huge fields,
a grain of wheat over the acres,
And using a feather instead of a plow to sow it,
and plow it with a cock feather,
Would you marry me?
At the next full moon, I tell her,
I promise you at the next full moon,
I made you measures:
I will show you my efforts and intentions.
Love to hear them.
I hope you will listen to me with love and respect.
Can't read. Not the black bible,
I may not be literate and cannot read the Bible,
or the blue back spelling book,
Or even simple spelling books,
haunt of that god, the alphabet.
Which are the domain of the god of knowledge.
But I can count the pulses of
But I can listen to the beats of
your blood, listen for April in
Your heart, and identify the seasons by listening to the songs of
the quail, show the way through
The birds. I can also navigate by
the constellations. Can't write,
The stars. I may not be a writer and
love letters, in praise of what
Express my feelings eloquently, or write about what
I have to praise, or even a list
I appreciate, or even make a list of
of what we need. But Virginia
Things we require. However, Virginia,
is my page, the rivers spilling
Is my canvas, where I can express myself through the rivers that run through it,
over it my marks, when I take
And where I can leave my marks. Even when I face challenges in this rough and tough land,
breath, I'm given, in this hard
I keep going, keep breathing, and keep striving with the encouragement and support you give me.
heavenly land, hover, and sing.
And I find joy in my surroundings, and in singing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Larry Beckett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind