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John HenrFy's pappy woke him up one midnight. He said, "Before the sheriff comes, I wanna tell you. G Listen boy," He said, "LeaFrn to ball a jack, learn to laFy a track. F
Learn to pick and shovel too. And take my hammer.
It'll do anything youG tell it to. F N.F. F John Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies. John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times. G The babFies all got sick and when the doctor wanted moneyF, F
He said: "I'll pay you a quarter at a time, startin' tomorrow.
That's pay for a steel driver on tGhis line." F Then the sectioFn foreman said, "Hey, hammer swinger, N.F. I see you brought your own hammer, boy,
But what else can all them muscle do?"
And he said, "I can turn a jack, I caFn lay a track. I can pick and shovel too." ("Can you swing a hammer, boy") "Yes sir, I can do anything you hiGre me to." F
F ("Now, ain't you somethin', so high and mighty with 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 ev'ry inch you sink into.
Go on and do what you say you cGan do." F With a steepF-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle, John Henry raised it back till it touched his heels. G Then the spike wFent through the crosstie and split it half in two. F F
Thirty five cents a day for drivin' steel. ("Sweat, sweat boy, sweat. You owe me two more swings.")
"I was born for drivin' steel." D Well, John Henry haDmmered in the mountain. He'd give a grunt and he'd give a groan with every swing. E7 The women folks for Dmiles around heard him and came doDwn D
To watch him make the cold steel ring. Lord, what a swinger.
Just listen to that cold steE7el ring. D F But the bad Fboss came up laughin' at John Henry. Said, "You full of vinegar now, but you 'bout through. G We gonFna get a steam drill to do you share if drivin'.
Then what's all them muscle gonna do, huh, John Henry?
Gonna take a little bit of vinegar out oGf you." F John HenFry said, "I feed four little brothers And baby sister's walkin' on her knees. G N.F. Did the Lord say that machines oughta take the place of livin'?
And what's the substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it.
Do engines get rewarded for their steam?" F John HenrFy hid in a coal mine for his dinner nap; Had thirty minutes to rest before the bell. G The mineF boss hollered, "Get up, who-ever you are and Fget a pickax. F
Give me enough coal to start another hill and keep it burnin'.
Mine me enough to start another Ghill." F John HenrFy said to his Captain, "A man ain't nothin' but a man. G But if you'll bring Fthat steam drill around I'll beat it fair and hoFn - est. F
I'll die with a hammer in my hand, but I'll be laughin',
'Cause you can't replae a steel drivin' Gman." F There was a big crowdF of people at the mountain. John Henry said to the steam drill, "How is you? G N.F. Pardon me, Mister Steam Drill. I suppose you didn't hear me.
I said, how are you? Huh?
Well, can Fyou turn a jack, can you lay a track? Can you pick and shovel too? G F N.F. D Listen, this hammer swinger's talkin' to you."
Two thousDands people hollered, "Go, John Henry!" Then somebody hollered, "The mountain's caving in!" E7 John HenrDy told the Captain, "Tell the kind folks don't to worry.
It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind. It keeps me breathin'.
This steel driver's muscle, E7I ain't tin. D F FCaptain, tell the people move back farther. I'm at the finish line and there ain't no drill. G It's Fso far behind but yet ain't got the brains to quit it.
When she blows up she'll scatter 'cross the hills, Lord, Lord. G F N.F. D When she blows up she'll scatter 'cross the hills."
Well, JohnD Henry had a little woman. I believe the lady's name was Polly Ann. E7 N.F. Yeah, that was his good woman.
John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home. He lay down to rest his weary back. And early next mornin' he said, "Come here Polly Ann. Come here, sugar. You 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 swingin' with the lead man, they'll all know, They'll all know you're John Henry's woman. But, but tell 'em that ain't all you can do.
Tell 'em I canD hoist a jack, and I can lay a trDack. D I can pick and shovel too. Ain't no machine can. E7 D N.F. F That's been proved to you."
There was a big crowFd of mourners at the church house. The section hands laid him in the sand. G FTrains go by on the rails John Henry laid. N.F. They slow down, they take off their hats, the men do.
When they come to the place where John Henry's layin' Restin' his back, some of 'em say, "Mornin', steel driver. You sure was a hammer swinger." Then they go on by pickin' up a little speed.
Click-a-dee clack. Click-a-deFe clack. Click-a-dee clack. Click-a-dee clack.
(YFonder lies the steel drivin' man, oh, Lord. Yonder lies the steel driGvin' man.) F ||: (DYonder lies the steel drivin' man, oh, Lord. Yonder lies the steel driDvin' man.) :|| ReDpeat and fade
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