[ti:The Legend of John Henry's Hammer] [ar:Johnny Cash] [al:The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983] [by:lrc.d4321.com]
[00:18.680] John Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight [00:23.020] He said Fore the sheriff comes [00:25.140] I wanna tell you listen boy [00:28.070] Said Learn to ball a jack [00:30.850] Learn to lay a track [00:32.850] Learn to pick [00:34.150] And shovel too [00:35.730] And take my hammer [00:37.270] It'll do anything you tell it to [00:41.630] John Henry's mammy had [00:43.560] About a dozen babies [00:46.490] John Henry's pappy broke jail [00:48.570] About a dozen times [00:51.830] The babies all got sick [00:53.790] And when the doctor wanted money [00:56.710] He said I'll pay you a quarter [00:58.930] At a time startin' tomorrow [01:01.530] That's the pay for a steel driver [01:03.780] On this line [01:06.160] Then the section foreman [01:07.630] Said Hey hammer swinger [01:10.820] I see you brought your own hammer boy [01:12.570] But what else can all those muscles do [01:14.790] And he said [01:15.990] I can turn a jack [01:18.190] I can lay a track [01:19.940] I can pick and shovel too [01:23.060] Can you swing a hammer boy [01:24.620] Yes sir I'll do anything you hire me to [01:35.970] Now ain't you somethin' [01:38.080] So high and mighty wif your muscles [01:41.500] Just go ahead boy and pick up that hammer [01:44.010] Pick up the hammer [01:45.830] He said Get a rusty spike [01:47.830] And swing it down three times [01:50.480] I'll pay you a nickel a day [01:52.210] For every inch you sink it to [01:54.880] Go on and do what you say you can do [01:59.020] With a steep nose hammer [02:00.430] On a four foot switch handle [02:03.300] John Henry raised it back 'til [02:04.900] It touched his heels then [02:07.960] The spike went through the cross tie [02:09.820] And it split it half in two [02:12.500] Thirty-five cents a day for drivin' steel [02:15.240] Sweat sweat boy [02:17.270] Sweat you owe me two more swings [02:19.620] I was born for driven steel [02:28.350] Well John Henry hammered in the mountain [02:32.370] He'd give a grunt he'd give a groan [02:34.310] With every swing [02:36.940] The women folks for miles around heard him [02:40.170] And come down [02:41.510] To watch him make the cold steel ring Lord [02:44.460] What a swinger [02:45.920] Just listen to that cold steel ring [02:53.240] But the bad boss come up laughin' at John Henry [02:57.390] Said You full of vinegar now [02:59.320] But you about through [03:02.150] We gonna get a steam drill to do [03:04.750] Your share of drivin' [03:06.510] Then what's all them muscles gonna do [03:09.370] Huh John Henry [03:10.950] Gonna take a little bit of vinegar [03:12.700] Out of you [03:14.750] John Henry said I feed four little brothers [03:19.130] And baby sister's walkin' on her knees [03:24.000] Did the Lord say that [03:26.270] Machines oughtta take the place of livin' [03:31.270] And what's a substitute for bread and beans [03:35.350] I ain't seen it [03:37.250] Do engines get rewarded for their steam [03:54.650] John Henry hid in a coal mine [03:56.320] For his dinner nap [03:59.060] Had thirty minutes to rest before the bell [04:03.230] The mine boss hollered Get up [04:05.600] Whoever you are and get a pick axe [04:07.840] Give me enough coal to start another hell [04:10.260] And keep it burnin' [04:11.960] Mine me enough to start another hell [04:15.940] John Henry said to his captain [04:20.380] A man ain't nothin' but a man [04:24.280] But if you'll bring that steam drill round [04:26.740] I'll beat it fair and honest [04:28.960] I'll die with my hammer in my hand [04:31.900] But I'll be laughin' [04:33.170] 'Cuz you can't replace a steel drivin' man [04:37.440] There was a big crowd of people [04:39.560] At the mountain [04:41.780] John Henry said to the steam drill [04:43.930] How is you [04:46.010] Pardon me mister steam drill [04:47.410] I suppose you didn't hear me [04:48.410] I said How're you [04:51.180] Well can you turn a jack can you lay a track [04:56.600] Can you pick and shovel too [05:00.680] Listen this hammer swinger's talkin' to you [05:27.950] Two thousand people hollered Go John Henry [05:31.950] Then somebody hollered The mountain's caving in [05:36.010] John Henry told the captain [05:38.040] Tell the kind folks don't worry [05:39.990] That ain't nothin' [05:40.470] But my hammer suckin' wind it [05:42.580] Keeps me breathin' [05:44.250] A steel driver's muscle I intend [05:52.630] Captain tell the people move back further [05:56.350] I'm at the finish line [05:57.750] And there ain't no drill [06:00.400] It's so far behind [06:01.780] But yet ain't got the brains to quit it [06:04.610] When she blows up [06:05.550] She'll scatter 'cross the hills Lord lordy [06:08.560] When she blows up [06:09.270] She'll scatter 'cross the hills [06:23.260] Well John Henry had a little woman [06:27.360] I believe the lady's name was Polly Ann [06:31.780] Yeah that was his good woman [06:33.660] John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder [06:35.760] And went on home [06:37.680] He laid down to rest his weary back [06:39.680] And early next mornin' [06:40.650] He said Come here Polly Ann come here sugar [06:45.030] Ya know I believe this is the first time [06:46.900] I ever watched [06:47.760] The sun come up that I couldn't come up [06:50.610] Take my hammer Polly Ann [06:51.820] And go to that railroad [06:53.530] Swing that hammer like you seen me do it [06:55.940] And when you're swingin' with the lead man [06:57.890] They'll all know [06:59.190] They'll all know you're John Henry's woman [07:01.600] But but tell them ain't all you can do [07:03.350] Tell 'em I can hoist a jack [07:06.640] And I can lay a track [07:08.990] I can pick [07:10.040] And shovel too ain't no machine can [07:14.460] That's been proved to you [07:26.880] There was a big crowd of mourners [07:28.950] At the church house [07:31.640] The section hands laid him in the sand [07:36.130] Trains go by on the rails John Henry laid [07:41.430] They slow down [07:42.880] And take off their hats the men do [07:44.320] When they come to the place [07:45.570] Where John Henry's layin' [07:46.720] Restin' his back some of 'em [07:48.730] Say Mornin' steel driver [07:51.620] You sure was a hammer swinger [07:53.970] Then they go on by pickin' up [07:55.060] A little speed [07:55.590] Clickity clack [07:56.970] Clickity clack [07:57.320] Clickity clack [07:58.650] Clickity clack [07:59.880] Yonder lies a steel drivin' man oh Lord [08:04.270] Yonder lies a steel drivin' man [08:08.140] Yonder lies a steel drivin' man oh Lord [08:12.320] Yonder lies a steel drivin' man [08:16.470] Yonder lies a steel drivin' man oh Lord [08:20.000] Yonder lies a steel drivin' man