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Traditional
lyrics
When John Henry was a little baby
Sittin' on his daddy's knee
Picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Cried, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord!
Hammer's gonna be the death of me!"
Now the Captain said to John Henry,
"Gonna bring that steam drill around.
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
Gonna knock that steel on down, Lord, Lord!
Knock that steel on down!"
John Henry told his Captain,
"Lord, a man ain't nothin' but a man!
Before I let your steam drill beat me down
I'm gonna die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord!
Die with a hammer in my hand!"
John Henry driving on the right side
That steam drill was driving on the left
He said, "Before I let your steam drill beat me down
I'll hammer my self to death, Lord, Lord!
I'll hammer my poor self to death!"
Now the Captain said to John Henry,
"What is that storm I hear?"
John Henry said, "That ain't no storm, Captain,
That's just my hammer in the air, Lord, Lord!
Just my hammer in the air!"
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!
Well now every Monday morning
When a bluebird, he begin to sing
You could hear John Henry for a mile or more
You could hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord!
Hear John Henry's hammer ring!
You could hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord!
Hear John Henry's hammer ring!
credits
from
Live From Metcalf Station!,
released September 14, 2014
Tucker "Rusty" Baker: guitar, lead vocals
Travis "Two-Foot" Scherschel: harmonica
Kyle "Addison Beauchamp" Soyer: accordion, backing vocals
Weston "Paddy" Mate: banjo, backing vocals, announcer
Nathan "Captain McCallen" Ford: fiddle, backing vocals
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