the legend of john henry's hammer
Singer:johnny cash
john henry's papy woke him up one midnight
he said before the sheriff comes i wanna tell you
said learn to ball a jack
learn to pick and shovel too
it'll do anything you tell it to
john hery's mammie had about a dozen babies
john henry's papie told tale 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
that's the pay for a steel driver on this line
then the section foreman said hey hammer swinger
i see you brought your own hammer boy
but what else can all those muscles do?
i can pick and shovel too
i can i'll do anything you hire me to
now ain't you something so high and mighty with your muscles
just go ahead pick up that 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 panel
john henry raised it back till it touched his heels
then the spike went through the cross tie and it split it half in two
35 cents a day for driven steel
i was born for driven steel
well john henry hammered in the mountain
he'd give a grunt and he'd give groan with every swing
the women folks for miles around
to watch him make the cold steel ring
just listen to that cold steel ring
but the bad boss come up laughing at john henry
said you full of vinegar now
were gonna get a steam drill to do your share of drivin
then what's all them muscles gonna do
gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you
john henry said i feed four little brothers
and my baby sister's walking on her knees
did the lord say that machines awtta take the place of living
and what's a subsitute for bread and beans
do engines get rewarded for their steam
john henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner now
had thirty minutes to rest before the bell
the mine boss hollered get up whoever you are and get a pick ax
give me enough coal to start another hill
mine me enough to start another hill
john henry said to his captain
a man ain't nothin but a man
but if you bring that steam drill round
i'll beat it fair and honest
i'll die with my hammer in my hand
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
can you pick and shovel too
listen this hammer swingers 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 not to worry
that ain't nothin but my hammer suckin' wind
a steel drivers muscle i intend
captain tell the people move back further
i'm at the finish line and i ain't no drill
she's so far behind you ain't got the brains to quit it
when she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills
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 layed down to rest his weary back and early next morining 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 with it
take my hammer polly ann and go to that rail road
swing that hammer like you seen me do it
and when your swinging with the lead men
they'll all know they'll all know your john henry's woman
but tell them that's not all i can do
tell em i can hoist a jack
i can pick and shovel too
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
when they come to the palce john henrys laid
some say mornin steel driver you sure were a hammer swinger
then they go along pickin up speed
down there lies a steel driven man oh lord
down there lies a steel driven man
down there lies a steel driven man oh lord
down there lies a steel driven man