John Henry
Two Poor Boys Lyrics
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Had a nine pound hammer, hold it in his arms
"Gonna be the death of me, mmm,mmm
Gonna be the death of me
Gonna be the death of me, mmm, mmm
Gonna be the death of me."
John Henry went to that Big Bend Tunnel, hammer in his hand
Laid down his hammer and he cried, oh partner
Laid down his hammer and he cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried
John Henry asked his shaker, "Shaker, did you ever pray?
'Cause if I miss this piece of steel
Tomorrow be your buryin' day, oh partner
Tomorrow be your buryin' day
Tomorrow be your buryin' day, (simultaneously) oh, part', oh, God
Tomorrow be your buryin' day."
"Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet, who's gonna glove your little hand
Baby, who's gonna kiss your rosy little cheeks
When I'm in a distant land
I'm in a distant land?"
John Henry, he took sick and went to bed,sent for the doctor and he come
Took a chair down the side of John Henry's bed, says,
"You sick and can't get well, oh partner
Sick and can't get well."
The song John Henry tells the story of a legendary African-American folk hero, John Henry, who was said to have worked as a steel-driving man, a job that involved the hammering of large steel drills into rock to create blast holes for explosives. The song starts by painting a picture of John Henry as a young child, sitting on his mother's knee with a nine-pound hammer in his arms, realizing the dangerous nature of his future profession. The lyrics suggest that although John Henry had a passion for his work, it would eventually be the death of him.
The song then moves on to tell the story of John Henry's famous battle against the steam-driven hammer in the Big Bend Tunnel. The lyrics describe how John Henry, although small in stature, was able to match the power of the mechanical hammer and win the race, only to collapse from exhaustion and die soon after. Through the lyrics, John Henry is depicted as a hero who worked hard and sacrificed everything in the name of his beliefs and pride.
The lyrics of "John Henry" use vivid and emotive language to convey the story of a brave, hardworking man who fought against the odds and ultimately lost his life in the pursuit of his passion. The song is both a celebration of African-American folk culture and an exploration of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
John Henry was a little baby boy, settin' on his mama's knee
Even as a baby, John Henry was rooted in the traditions of his community.
Had a nine pound hammer, hold it in his arms
As a child, John Henry was already being groomed to be a laborer.
"Gonna be the death of me, mmm,mmm
Gonna be the death of me
Gonna be the death of me, mmm, mmm
Gonna be the death of me."
John Henry understood that the back-breaking work he was born into would likely lead to his early death.
John Henry went to that Big Bend Tunnel, hammer in his hand
John Henry grew up to be a laborer working on a railway tunnel known for its danger and difficulty.
John Henry was so small 'til that rock was so tall
In the face of the enormous and seemingly unbeatable task of piercing through a mountain with a hammer, John Henry appeared small and frail.
Laid down his hammer and he cried, oh partner
Laid down his hammer and he cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried
John Henry felt overwhelmed and defeated and gave up on the task at hand.
John Henry asked his shaker, "Shaker, did you ever pray?
'Cause if I miss this piece of steel
Tomorrow be your buryin' day, oh partner
Tomorrow be your buryin' day
Tomorrow be your buryin' day, (simultaneously) oh, part', oh, God
Tomorrow be your buryin' day."
John Henry turned to his fellow laborer for support and acknowledged that the risky nature of the task meant that death could come at any moment.
"Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet, who's gonna glove your little hand
Baby, who's gonna kiss your rosy little cheeks
When I'm in a distant land
I'm in a distant land?"
John Henry worries about the loved ones he will leave behind and how they will fare without him.
John Henry, he took sick and went to bed,sent for the doctor and he come
Took a chair down the side of John Henry's bed, says,
"You sick and can't get well, oh partner
Sick and can't get well."
John Henry fell ill and was unable to continue working, ultimately leading to his death.
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.