Spikedriver Blues

(album: Doc Watson On Stage - 1971)

To show you the different kinds of blues
Here's one of the late John Hurt's tunes
And Merle here is a pretty good example of the youngsters that loved Uncle John's playing
And sort of took a liking to it and decided they'd learn a little something about it
I will not pick much on this, just a little bit
Let Merle do most of the lead, I'll play a little sort of harmony
Maybe I'll sing it
"Spikedriver's Blues"

John Henry was a steel driving boy
But he went down, yes, he went down
He went down

Take my hammer and give it to the captain
Boys, tell him I'm gone, you can tell him I'm gone
Yes, tell him I'm gone

This old hammer done killed John Henry
It ain't gon' kill me, no, it won't kill me
Ain't gon' kill me

It's a long way from East Colorado
Honey to my home, honey to my home
Honey to my home

John Henry, he left his hammer
All painted red, all shining red
John Henry left

Take this hammer and give it to the captain
You can tell him I'm gone, boys, tell him I'm gone
You sure he's gone?