What Was It John Henry Did Again?

[Grumblenuts]

Monday morning traffic woke me today. Loud and energetic. Playtime's over. Time to make the donuts. Saddle up and ride. That coal ain't gonna dig itself now. Well, John Henry he had.. some sort of hammer.. wait, what? How'd that song go again, hun? Never heard of it. Oh, jeez. Time to do a bit of research, I guess.. Wow, some labor history and everything..




Well hell, no wonder.. Practically everyone has their own version! Comments? Maybe post your favorite rendition?..

 

[DukeU]

 

[lg325]

Was John Henry a real person? Some say yes some say no. He represents the working man fighting to not be pushed out by new technology. In his case a steam powered drill. He bet his boss he could out drill the machine and he did but at a loss to his life. With two sledgehammers he drilled a hole 16ft and the steam drill only did 9.

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

My favorite version

 

[lg325]

 

[surada]

Woody Guthrie.
John Henry when he was a baby
Settin' on his mammy's knee
Picked up an hammer in his little right hand
Said "Hammer be the death of me me me
Hammer be the death of me!"

Some say he's born in Texas
Some say he's born up in Maine
I just say he was a Louisiana man
Leader of a steel-driving chain gang
Leader on a steel-driving gang

"Well", the captain said to John Henry
"I'm gonna bring my steam drill around
Gonna whup that steel on down down down
Whup that steel on down!"

John Henry said to the captain (what he say?)
"You can bring your steam drill around
Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job
I'll beat your steam drill down down down
Beat your steam drill down!"

continued

https://genius.com/Woody-guthrie-john-henry-lyrics

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

Woody Guthrie.
John Henry when he was a baby
Settin' on his mammy's knee
Picked up an hammer in his little right hand
Said "Hammer be the death of me me me
Hammer be the death of me!"

Some say he's born in Texas
Some say he's born up in Maine
I just say he was a Louisiana man
Leader of a steel-driving chain gang
Leader on a steel-driving gang

"Well", the captain said to John Henry
"I'm gonna bring my steam drill around
Gonna whup that steel on down down down
Whup that steel on down!"

John Henry said to the captain (what he say?)
"You can bring your steam drill around
Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job
I'll beat your steam drill down down down
Beat your steam drill down!"

continued

https://genius.com/Woody-guthrie-john-henry-lyrics

I do like Woody's verson as well. Woody was a staunch advocate for the working man his whole life.

 

[surada]

I do like Woody's verson as well. Woody was a staunch advocate for the working man his whole life.

Yep. Gutherie's version has always been my favorite too.

 

[Biff_Poindexter]

I prefer Johnny Cash's version the most