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Johnny Cash - The Legend of John Henry's Hammer Lyrics
John Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight
He said, "'Fore the sheriff comes I wanna tell you listen boy
Said, Learn to ball a jack, learn to lay a track, learn to pick And shovel too,
And take my hammer It'll do anything you tell it to
John Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies,
John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times
The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money,
He said, I'll pay you quarter at a time startin' tomorrow
That's the pay for a steel driver on this line
Then the section foreman said, Hey - hammer swinger
I see you brought you own hammer boy, but what else can all Those muscles do and he said, I can turn a jack, I can lay a Track, I can pick and shovel too
Can you swing a hammer boy?
Yes, Sir, I'll do anything you hire me to
Now ain't you something So high and mighty wif' your muscles just go ahead, boy, and pick up that hammer Pick up The hammer
He said, Get a rusty spike and swing it down three times
I'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to
Go on and do what you say you can do
With a steep nose hammer on a four foot switch handle,
John Henry raised it back 'til it touched his heels Then
The spike went through the cross tie, and it split it half in two
Thirty-five cents a day for drivin' steel
Sweat Sweat boy, sweat You owe me two more swings
I was born for driven steel
Well John Henry hammered in the mountain
He'd give a grunt and he'd give a groan with every swing
The women folks for miles around heard him and come down,
To watch him make the cold steel ring Lord what a swinger
Just listen to that cold steel ring
But the bad boss come up laughin' at John Henry
Said, You full of vinegar now, but you about through
We gonna get a steam drill to do your share of drivin'
Then what's all them muscles gonna do? Huh, John Henry?
Gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you
John Henry said, I feed four little brothers
And baby sister's walking on her knees
Did the lord say that machines aughtta take the place of living?
And what's a substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it
Do engines get rewarded for their steam
John Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner nap
Had thirty minutes to rest before the bell
The mine boss hollered, Get up, whoever you are, and get a pick axe
Give me enough coal to start another Hell And keep it burnin'
Mine me enough to start another Hell
John Henry said to his captain, A man ain't nothin' but a man
But if you'll bring that steam drill round, I'll beat it fair and honest I'll die with my hammer in my hand but I'll be laughing
'Cuz you can't replace a steel driven man
There was a big crowd of people at the mountain,
John Henry said to the steam drill, How is you?
Pardon me mister steam drill, I suppose you didn't hear me I said how're you
Well can you turn a jack, can you lay a track, can you pick and shovel too?
Listen this hammer swinger's talkin' to you
2000 people hollered, Go, John Henry
Then somebody hollered, The mountain's caving in
John Henry told the captain, Tell the kind folks don't worry
That ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind It keeps me breathing a steel driver's muscle I intend
Captain, tell the people, move back further
I'm at the finish line and there ain't no drill
It's so far behind, but yet ain't got the brains to quit it
When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills Lord Lordy
When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills
Well John Henry had a little woman,
I believe the lady's name was Polly Ann Yeah that was his good woman John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder And went on home
He laid down to rest his weary back, and early next mornin' he said, come here Polly Ann Come here Sugar
Ya know, I believe this is the first time I ever watched the sun come up that I couldn't come up
Take my hammer, Polly Ann, and go to that railroad
Swing that hammer like you seen me do it
And when you're swinging with the lead man,
They'll all know they'll all know you're John Henry's woman
But, but tell them ain't all you can do
Tell 'em I can hoist a jack, and I can lay a track,
I can pick and shovel too Ain't no machine can
That's been proved to you
There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house
The section hands laid him in the sand
Trains go by on the rails John Henry laid
They slow down and take off their hats, the men do
When they come to the place John Henry's layin', restin' his back
Some of 'em say, 'Mornin', steel driver You shor' was a hammer swinger
Then they go on by, pickin' up a little speed Clickity clack, clickity clack, clickity clack, clickity clack
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man, oh lord
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man, oh lord
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man, oh lord
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man
