John Henry

(album: By The Light Of The Moon: Campfire Songs And Cowboy Tunes - 1997)

[Spoken intro:]
Not all the heroes in the old West herded cattle. Some of them helped lay the silver rails across this vast land. They were hard-working men who worked from sunup 'til sundown driving spikes and laying railroad track. Let me tell ya about one of 'em.

John Henry was born on a cold, cloudy day
When the sun refused to shine
The very first sound John Henry ever heard
Was a mail train rattling down the line
(yes it was)
A mail train rattling down the line

When John Henry was a little baby boy
No bigger than the palm of your hand
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
And said Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man
(yes he is)
Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man
Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man

John Henry, he said to the captian
I was born to be a steel-driving man
I swing a nine-pound hammer like a bulldog swings his chain
I can drive more steel than anybody can
(try me out)
I can drive more steel than anybody can
And the captain said to John Henry
I don't know what I'd use you for
I got a steam drill coming on that southbound evening' train
I don't need no steel drivers anymore
(no I don't)
I don't need me no steel drivers anymore