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John Henry Lives

by Laura Veirs

on The Triumphs and Travails of Orphan Mae (2001)

Hear the whistle blow far off in the still night without stars see the tracks laid flat
With a hammer's might they're the spike driver's scars they're the spike driver's scars

By the railroad ties there a hammer lies it's all painted in red it's all painted in red it's all painted in red

The west springs up from the spike driver's blues
And the captain's new shiny shoes take to him this hat
And hammer and tell him i'm gone i'm gone i'm gone i'm gone i'm gone

By the railroad ties there a hammer lies it's all painted in red it's all painted in red it's all painted in red