There are many versions of the song. The popular Johny Cash version, "The legend of John Henry's Hammer" is one where he uses his hammer to drive spikes into track
Then the section foreman said, Hey - hammer swinger! I see you brought you own hammer boy, but what else can all those muscles do And he said, I can turn a jack, I can lay a track, I can pick and shovel too (Can you swing a hammer boy?) Yes, Sir, I'll do anything you hire me to. Now ain't you something! So high and mighty wif' your muscles! Just go ahead, boy, and pick up that hammer! Pick up the hammer! The recent Disney short almost appears to incorporate both motifs. I am told he is driving track for a railroad and then they switch to a tunnel. The Pete Seeger version, probably the most well known, refers to tunneling. Some traditional lyrics just use the phrase "steel driving man" but don't refer to the means of his death. There is a very short history of early versions of John Henry lyrics here. One of the earliest I'll post but there are marked variations on the website. http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/early.html Guy Johnson's research indicated that the earliest *John Henry* ballads > originated in the oral tradition of hammer songs in the 1870s and evolved > over time into the ballads with which we are familiar today. One of the > earliest written copies of the ballad, prepared by a W. T. Blankenship and > published about 1900 or slightly earlier, was obtained by Johnson. Johnson > believed this version represented portions of several earlier versions. > JOHN HENRY, STEEL DRIVING MAN > > > 1. John Henry was a railroad man, > > He worked from six 'till five, > > "Raise 'em up bullies and let 'em drop down, > > I'll beat you to the bottom or die." > 2. John Henry said to his captain: > > "You are nothing but a common man, > > Before that steam drill shall beat me down, > > I'll die with my hammer in my hand." > 3. John Henry said to the Shakers: > > "You must listen to my call, > > Before that steam drill shall beat me down, > > I'll jar these mountains till they fall." > 4. John Henry's captain said to him: > > "I believe these mountains are caving in." > > John Henry said to his captain: "Oh, Lord!" > > "That's my hammer you hear in the wind." > 5. John Henry he said to his captain: > > "Your money is getting mighty slim, > > When I hammer through this old mountain, > > Oh Captain will you walk in?" > 6. John Henry's captain came to him > > With fifty dollars in his hand, > > He laid his hand on his shoulder and said: > > "This belongs to a steel driving man." > 7. John Henry was hammering on the right side, > > The big steam drill on the left, > > Before that steam drill could beat him down, > > He hammered his fool self to death. > 8. They carried John Henry to the mountains, > > From his shoulder his hammer would ring, > > She caught on fire by a little blue blaze > > I believe these old mountains are caving in. > 9. John Henry was lying on his death bed, > > He turned over on his side, > > And these were the last words John Henry said > > "Bring me a cool drink of water before I die." > 10. John Henry had a little woman, > > Her name was Pollie Ann, > > He hugged and kissed her just before he died, > > Saying, "Pollie, do the very best you can." > 11. John Henry's woman heard he was dead, > > She could not rest on her bed, > > She got up at midnight, caught that No. 4 train, > > "I am going where John Henry fell dead." > 12. They carried John Henry to that new burying ground > > His wife all dressed in blue, > > She laid her hand on John Henry's cold face, > > "John Henry I've been true to you." > > Here is an article from the same site trying to pin down the truth behind all the songs. http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/analysis.html Note the confusion - this site uses a picture of men driving spikes into a rail while the words describe a tunneler who works with a shaker or turner pounding into rock. Gary Denton On 5/6/05, Keith Henson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > At 09:35 PM 06/05/05 -0400, Maru wrote: > > On 5/6/05, Keith Henson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > At 11:50 AM 06/05/05 -0400, Maru wrote: > > > snip > > > Can you go on Google and point out a few places where John Henry is up > > against a "track laying machine" or driving spikes to hold down the > rails? > > -- Gary Denton Easter Lemming Blogs http://elemming.blogspot.com http://elemming2.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
