Legend Of John Henry's Hammer lyrics

Song information

Artist: Johnny Cash
Album: 16 Biggest Hits

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 saint 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