John Henry
Pete Seeger Jane Sapp & Si Kahn Lyrics
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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.
Down.
Whop that steel on 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.
The song "John Henry" tells the story of the legendary African American folk hero, John Henry, who was a steel-driving man that outworked a steam drill during the construction of railroad tunnels in the late 19th century. The song begins with the description of John Henry as a baby sitting on his father's knee and already showing an interest in hammers and steel. John Henry, who believes in the superiority of human labor over machines, is approached by his captain who asks him to compete with a steam drill in the tunnel-digging job. John Henry accepts the challenge with a determination to prove that human labor can surpass the power of machines.
As John Henry works tirelessly in the tunnel, he calls on his shaker to sing while he pounds steel, and the sound of his hammering is described as "striking fire." Despite the steam drill's impressive performance, John Henry manages to outwork it by a significant margin, making fifteen feet of progress to the machine's nine. However, the poem ends on a somber note, as the exertion of his labor causes John Henry's heart to give out and he dies with a hammer in his hand.
"John Henry" is a powerful symbol of the working-class struggle against industrialization and automation. The story of his heroic labor has been retold in many forms, from poetry and song to books and films, and remains a cultural touchstone for the enduring spirit of human perseverance against automation and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
John Henry was about three days old,
From a very young age, John Henry was destined to a life of hard labor.
Sittin' on his papa's knee.
His father was likely a laborer and was already conditioning his son to value hard work.
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel;
John Henry was naturally drawn to, and already had an aptitude for, hard labor.
Said, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord.
Despite his natural inclination towards hard labor, John Henry recognized the toll it would eventually take on his body.
The captain said to John Henry
John Henry is being addressed by his boss or foreman.
"Gonna bring that steam drill 'round.
The boss is bragging about some new technology that will make labor easier and more efficient.
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.
The boss intends to put this new technology to use in John Henry's workplace.
Gonna whop that steel on down. Down, down.
The boss is confident that this technology will improve the efficiency of their labor and put them ahead of their competition.
John Henry told his captain,
John Henry speaks up in response to his boss's boastful declarations.
"A man ain't nothin' but a man,
John Henry is acknowledging that he is not invincible, but he is not afraid of hard work.
But before I let your steam drill beat me
John Henry sees newer technologies as a challenge and is determined to prove his worth in spite of them.
Down,
John Henry will not let hard work defeat him.
I'd die with a hammer in my hand. Lord, Lord.
John Henry sees hard work as an essential part of his identity, and he would rather die than compromise on this core value.
John Henry said to his shaker,
John Henry speaks to his co-worker and collaborator for this project.
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
John Henry invites his partner to join him in making music while they work.
I'm throwin' thirty pounds from my hips on Down.
John Henry is proud of his work, and he is working hard even when it is exhausting.
Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lord, Lord.
John Henry takes pride in his work and is inspired by the sound of the hammer as it strikes the steel.
The man that invented the stream drill
John Henry is referring to the inventor of the technology his boss is boasting about.
Thought he was mighty fine,
The inventor of the steam drill is confident that his technology will revolutionize work in their line of business.
But John Henry made fifteen feet;
John Henry proves that his worth ethic and commitment to hard work outpaces the new technologies that are being developed.
The steam drill only made nine. Lord, Lord.
Despite the confidence of his boss and the inventor of the new technology, John Henry's hard work achieved a greater productivity than the machine.
John Henry hammered in the mountain
John Henry's work was always physically demanding and intensive.
His hammer was striking fire.
John Henry worked so hard that his hammer was generating sparks from the steel it struck.
But he worked so hard, he broke his poor heart.
John Henry's commitment to hard work was ultimately the cause of his death.
He laid down his hammer and he died. Lord, Lord.
The toll of physically demanding work on John Henry proved fatal.
John Henry had a little woman.
John Henry had a wife.
Her name was Polly Ann.
His wife's name was Polly Ann.
John Henry took sick and went to his bed.
John Henry eventually became ill due to the strain of his work.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man. Lord, Lord.
Polly Ann takes over John Henry's work as he becomes sick and eventually passes away.
John Henry had a little baby.
John Henry also had a child.
You could hold him in the palm of your hand.
His child was very small, a newborn.
The last words I heard that poor boy say,
The song is closing with an anecdote about a personal connection to John Henry's story.
"My daddy was steel-driving man. Lord, Lord.
The child recognizes his father's commitment and worth ethic, even if he is too young to fully appreciate the work his father accomplished.
Well, every Monday morning
The song returns to John Henry's legacy and the way in which he is remembered.
When the bluebirds begin to sing.
The spring season signifies the arrival of new beginnings and hope.
You can hear John Henry a mile or more.
John Henry is still remembered and honored long after his death.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
John Henry's commitment to and love of hard work is immortalized in the sound of his hammer ringing out even years later.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLARENCE L LEWIS, MORRIS LEVY, WAYMON GLASCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind