Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order (1927 – 1929)

John Henry (The Steel Driving Man) Take 2

by Furry Lewis

on Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order (1927 – 1929) (2007)

John Henry hammered in the mountain
'Til the head of his hammer caught on fire
Cryin', "Pick 'em up boys, and let 'em down again
One cool drink of water 'fore I die, die

One cool drink of water 'fore I die, die"

John Henry had a little woman
And the dress she wore was blue
Drive down the railroad track, heard a voice 'hind her sayin'
"John Henry's sure been true to you, you

Girl, John Henry's sure been true to you
John Henry's sure been true to" (Guitar finishes line)

"Woman, take this ring I give you
And you put it on your right hand
And when I'm dead and buried, poor gal
You can give it to your other man

You can give it to your other man"

John Henry asked the boss man for a job
Boss man say, "What in the world can you do?"
"I can set your track and I can line your jack
I can pick and shovel, too, too
(Guitar answers X 2)

When the womens in the West heard of John Henry's death
They couldn't sleep at home in thei' beds
Some was dressed in white, some dressed in red
Say, "I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead, dead

Lord, I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead, dead"

Lord, they buried poor John Henry
And they buried him in the pits of the sand
And the people, they gathered ten thousand miles around
Said, "There laid the head of that steel-driving gang"

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On John Henry (The Steel Driving Man) Take 2 by Furry Lewis

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