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Pete Seeger John Henry Lyrics
Total views: 1 time this week / Rating: 7.20/10 [10 votes]Album: The Essential Pete Seeger / Original Release Date: 1986Genre: Singer/SongwriterSong Duration: 4 min 09 sec
John Henry
Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
PETE SEEGER
- John Henry LyricsJohn Henry was about three days old,
sittin' on his papa's knee.
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel;
said, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord.
Hammer's gonna be the death of me."
The captain said to John Henry
"Gonna bring that steam drill 'round.
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.
Gonna whop that steel on down. Down,
Down.
Whop that steel on down."
John Henry told his captain,
"A man ain't nothin' but a man,
But before I let your steam drill beat me
down,
I'd die with a hammer in my hand. Lord,
Lord.
I'd dies with a hammer in my hand."
John Henry said to his shaker,
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
I'm throwin' thirty pounds from my hips on
down.
Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lord, Lord.
Listen to that cold steel ring."
The man that invented the stream drill
Thought he was mighty fine,
But John Henry made fifteen feet;
The steam drill only made nine. Lord, Lord.
The steam drill only made nine.
John Henry hammered in the mountain
His hammer was striking fire.
But he worked so hard, he broke his poor
heart.
He laid down his hammer and he died. Lord,
Lord.
He laid down his hammer and he died.
John Henry had a little woman.
Her name was Polly Ann.
John Henry took sick and went to his bed.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man. Lord,
Lord.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man.
John Henry had a little baby.
You could hold him in the palm of your
hand.
The last words I heard that poor boy say,
"My daddy was steel-driving man. Lord,
Lord.
My daddy was a steel-driving."
Well, every Monday morning
When the bluebirds begin to sing.
You can hear John Henry a mile or more.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Lord, Lord.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
sittin' on his papa's knee.
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel;
said, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord.
Hammer's gonna be the death of me."
The captain said to John Henry
"Gonna bring that steam drill 'round.
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.
Gonna whop that steel on down. Down,
Down.
Whop that steel on down."
John Henry told his captain,
"A man ain't nothin' but a man,
But before I let your steam drill beat me
down,
I'd die with a hammer in my hand. Lord,
Lord.
I'd dies with a hammer in my hand."
John Henry said to his shaker,
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
I'm throwin' thirty pounds from my hips on
down.
Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lord, Lord.
Listen to that cold steel ring."
The man that invented the stream drill
Thought he was mighty fine,
But John Henry made fifteen feet;
The steam drill only made nine.
John Henry hammered in the mountain
His hammer was striking fire.
But he worked so hard, he broke his poor
heart.
He laid down his hammer and he died. Lord,
Lord.
He laid down his hammer and he died.
John Henry had a little woman.
Her name was Polly Ann.
John Henry took sick and went to his bed.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man. Lord,
Lord.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man.
John Henry had a little baby.
You could hold him in the palm of your
hand.
The last words I heard that poor boy say,
"My daddy was steel-driving man. Lord,
Lord.
My daddy was a steel-driving."
Well, every Monday morning
When the bluebirds begin to sing.
You can hear John Henry a mile or more.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Lord, Lord.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Facts about John Henry
✔️
John Henry is written by Pd Traditional, J Baird.
✔️
It is first released in 1986 as part of Pete Seeger's album "The Essential Pete Seeger" which includes 15 tracks in total.
✔️
When we consider what the writer meant by those haunting lines, Pete Seeger’s ‘John Henry’ narrates the story of a man fighting against machines, illustrating through the comparison of John Henry’s hammer and the steam drill the might of human effort and willpower. The lyrics of John henry are mainly about empowerment, inspiration, reflection, angst, and social commentary. The song, however, places pride and determination, the struggle between man and machine, and sacrifice and legacy at its core. The words speak of hard labor, competition, and perseverance—topics most audiences would cope with provided that they received parental guidance. One can find no explicit language, violence, or any other mature content that could justify a higher rating.
✔️
John Henry falls under the genres Singer, Songwriter.
✔️
John Henry song length is 4 minutes and 09 seconds.
Who wrote John Henry lyrics?
John Henry is written by Pd Traditional, J Baird.
✔️
When was John Henry released?
It is first released in 1986 as part of Pete Seeger's album "The Essential Pete Seeger" which includes 15 tracks in total.
✔️
What is the meaning behind John Henry lyrics?
When we consider what the writer meant by those haunting lines, Pete Seeger’s ‘John Henry’ narrates the story of a man fighting against machines, illustrating through the comparison of John Henry’s hammer and the steam drill the might of human effort and willpower. The lyrics of John henry are mainly about empowerment, inspiration, reflection, angst, and social commentary. The song, however, places pride and determination, the struggle between man and machine, and sacrifice and legacy at its core. The words speak of hard labor, competition, and perseverance—topics most audiences would cope with provided that they received parental guidance. One can find no explicit language, violence, or any other mature content that could justify a higher rating.
✔️
Which genre is John Henry?
John Henry falls under the genres Singer, Songwriter.
✔️
How long is the song John Henry?
John Henry song length is 4 minutes and 09 seconds.
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Songwriter(s): Pd Traditional, J Baird
Record Label(s): 1998 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Originally Released 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, (P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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