John Henry
Pete Seeger Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly Lyrics
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Settin' on his mammy's knee
Picked up an hammer in his little right hand
Said, "Hammer be the death of me, me, me
Hammer be the death of me"
Some say he's born in Texas
Some say he's born up in Maine
Leader of a steel-driving chain gang
Leader on a steel-driving gang
Well, the Captain said to John Henry
"I'm gonna bring my steam drill around
Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job
Gonna whup that steel on down, down, down
Whup that steel on down"
John Henry said to the Captain
(What he say?)
"You can bring your steam drill around
You can bring your steam drill out on the job
I'll beat your steam drill down, down, down
Beat your steam drill down"
John Henry said to his Shaker
"Shaker, you had better pray
If you miss your six feet of steel
I'll be your buryin' day, day, day
I'll be your buryin' day"
Now, the Shaker said to John Henry
(Yes sir)
"Man ain't nothing but a man
(No he ain't)
But before I'd let that steam drill beat me down
(I believe him)
I'd die with an hammer in my hand, hand, hand
(I believe him)
I'd die with an hammer in my hand"
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Polly Anne
John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed
While Polly handled steel like a man, man, man
Polly handled steel like a man
They took John Henry to the graveyard
Laid him down in the sand
Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by
Hollered, there lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man
There lies a steel-drivin' man
There lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man
There lies a steel-drivin' man
The song "John Henry" is a traditional African American folk ballad that has been sung and passed down through the generations. It tells the story of John Henry, a steel-driving man known for his incredible strength and work ethic. As a child, John Henry picked up a hammer and declared that it would be the death of him. He became a leader of a steel-driving gang and was eventually challenged by the captain to race against a steam drill to see who could drive steel more efficiently.
John Henry accepted the challenge, but he knew that it would be a tough fight. He reassured his fellow workers and his beloved Polly Anne, who also worked alongside him, that he would come out victorious. In the end, John Henry emerged victorious, but the exertion was too much for him, and he collapsed and died. The song acknowledges his extraordinary strength and contributions to the building of the railroad, and the locomotives that pass by his grave serve as a tribute to his legacy.
Overall, the song "John Henry" is a celebration of hard work, determination, and the indomitable spirit of the human soul. It speaks to the struggles of African American workers during a time of great oppression, and the resilience and perseverance that they displayed in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
John Henry, when he was a baby
John Henry, from his infancy
Settin' on his mammy's knee
resting on his mother's lap
Picked up an hammer in his little right hand
held a hammer in his right hand
Said, 'Hammer be the death of me, me, me
predicted the hammer would be responsible for his death
Some say he's born in Texas
Some claim he was born in Texas
Some say he's born up in Maine
Some claim he was born in Maine
I just say he was a Louisiana man
I believe he was from Louisiana
Leader of a steel-driving chain gang
The head of a group of convicts who worked on railroads
Leader on a steel-driving gang
Leader of a crew that constructed railways
Well, the Captain said to John Henry
The supervisor spoke to John Henry
'I'm gonna bring my steam drill around
I'll introduce my automated drill
Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job
It will be put to work immediately
Gonna whup that steel on down, down, down
It will conquer the steel with ease
John Henry said to the Captain
John Henry responded to the supervisor
'You can bring your steam drill around
You're more than welcome to bring your drill
I'll beat your steam drill down, down, down
I'll defeat your machine with my hammer
John Henry said to his Shaker
John Henry spoke to his work partner
'Shaker, you had better pray
You should start praying
If you miss your six feet of steel
If you fail to reach the required target length of steel
I'll be your buryin' day, day, day
You'll pay for your error with your life
Now, the Shaker said to John Henry
The Shaker responded to John Henry
'Man ain't nothing but a man
We're all equal
'But before I'd let that steam drill beat me down
I'd rather die than be defeated by a machine
I'd die with an hammer in my hand, hand, hand
I'd rather die holding my hammer
John Henry had a little woman
John Henry was married
Her name was Polly Anne
His wife's name was Polly Anne
John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed
John Henry fell ill and was bedridden
While Polly handled steel like a man, man, man
Meanwhile, Polly worked and did a man's job
They took John Henry to the graveyard
John Henry's corpse was taken to the cemetery
Laid him down in the sand
He was buried in the sandy soil
Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by
Every passing train
Hollered, there lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man
Announced, John Henry, the man who made railroads with his hammer, is gone
There lies a steel-drivin' man
Here lies an industrious worker who helped build railroads
There lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man
A repeat of the previous statement
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARTHUR BURNETTE LYMAN, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ivan Saric
Sonny Terry in his prime. The real country harmonica. Sonny's harp gives me goose bumps. After 30 years of listening to his music my hair still stands on end when I hear the juicy stuff.
Alias
It's definitely Woody Guthrie, and if you needed any more assurance just listen to his hammer on and pull off technique.
Terrance addison
To honor those who work hard to the bone. America should be like this
Argotero
I think is Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcgee and the other man maybe is the great Woody Guthrie? and Pete Seeger at banjo at the end...just fantastic. Thanks so much
Maple Leaf Muscle
look how young pete seger is.
Jackson DeMarre
is that pete seeger playing banjo at the end?
johnnyjackpot
Great Video!