The Legend of John Henry
An introduction to John Henry
john henry legend
John Henry is an American folk hero, famous for having raced against a steam powered hammer and won, only to die in victory with his hammer in his hand. He has been the subject of numerous songs, stories, plays, and novels.
John Henry Legend
Ballad of John Henry
John Henry was a railroad man, He worked from six 'till five,- John Henry said to his captain: "You are nothing but a common man,
- John Henry said to the Shakers: "You must listen to my call,
- John Henry's captain said to him: "I believe these mountains are caving in."
- John Henry he said to his captain: "Your money is getting mighty slim,
- John Henry's captain came to him With fifty dollars in his hand,
- John Henry was hammering on the right side, The big steam drill on the left,
- They carried John Henry to the mountains, From his shoulder his hammer would ring,
- John Henry was lying on his death bed, He turned over on his side,
- John Henry had a little woman, Her name was Pollie Ann,
- John Henry's woman heard he was dead, She could not rest on her bed,
- They carried John Henry to that new burying ground His wife all dressed in blue,
"Raise 'em up bullies and let 'em drop down,
I'll beat you to the bottom or die."
Before that steam drill shall beat me down,
I'll die with my hammer in my hand."
Before that steam drill shall beat me down,
I'll jar these mountains till they fall."
John Henry said to his captain: "Oh, Lord!"
"That's my hammer you hear in the wind."
When I hammer through this old mountain,
Oh Captain will you walk in?"
He laid his hand on his shoulder and said:
"This belongs to a steel driving man."
Before that steam drill could beat him down,
He hammered his fool self to death.
She caught on fire by a little blue blaze
I believe these old mountains are caving in.
And these were the last words John Henry said
"Bring me a cool drink of water before I die."
He hugged and kissed her just before he died,
Saying, "Pollie, do the very best you can."
She got up at midnight, caught that No. 4 train,
"I am going where John Henry fell dead."
She laid her hand on John Henry's cold face,
"John Henry I've been true to you."
OTHER VERSIONS FROM - http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/index.htmlConstruction Crew Version
Folk Version
Prison and Chain Gang Version
Other Versions
Buy New $12.89
John Henry on Amazon
John Henry Links and Resources
- John Henry - The Steel Driving Man
- The Legend of John Henry
There are two John Henrys - the man and legend surrounding him.
Pinning down
the legend is not easy; it's as varied as the thousands of people
who have studied, sung a - Everything John Henry
- My name is John Henry. Yes, I've heard the song about the "Steel Drivin' Man". And you can find everything John Henry on my lens, the legend, the song, and all the ways my name is used to sell securities, restaurants, clothing, and more. Below is my story and you can visit my famil
- John Henry, the Steel-Driving Man: A West Virginia folktale from American Folklore.
- Now John Henry was a mighty man, yes sir. Born a slave, John Henry was freed after the war and became a steel-driver. John Henry became the most powerful man working the rails...
- Please join our John Henry Yahoo discussion group.
- johnhenry_group: John Henry the Steel Driving Man
- Amazon.com: Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry: the Untold Story of an American Legend: Scott Reynolds Nelson: Books
Amazon.com: Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry: the Untold Story of an American Legend: Scott Reynolds Nelson: Books
Steel Drivin' Man
Author: Scott Reynolds Nelson; Buy New: $16.50- Q&A with Nelson: Beyond the myth of John Henry
- Nelson: John Henry is the most researched folk hero around. I came about my study in a completely different way than most researchers: I wasn't so interested in the song. I had heard it, but the descriptions of John Henry being this black man who was, in the 1870s, a highly paid worker who was renowned throughout the South and who could earn any amount of money struck me as odd. I knew a whole lot about black railroad workers in the South, and it didn't fit with anything I knew. It's not that black railroad workers' lives were terrible-they weren't awful, but these men were not highly paid, highly respected people.
- Listen to John Henry Music...
- Hear Music | Read Lyrics | Analyze the Music
Listen to John Henry Music...
John Henry - Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Amazon)
Gillian Welch - Real Audio file
John Henry (mp3) - Bertrando Goio (Harmonica Bert), Man Trouble Blues
The Saga of John Henry (mp3) - The Smothers Brothers
The Day John Henry Died - Drive By Truckers (Amazon)
John Henry - Harry Belafonte (Amazon)
John Henry (mp3) - Joe Uehlein & The U-Liners (Web Site)
John Henry (mp3) - Van Morrision
John Henry Animation Part One of Two
John Henry - Part 1 of 2
Disney's short animation about the legend John Henry. John Henry was a former slave who's mighty strength made him one of the earliest African-American role models. Wielding a sledge hammer forged from the chains that bound him in servitude, he was a one-man railroad crew who "could move mountains". He is put to the ultimate test when he faces a mechanical power hammer that threatens to take away his land.
Runtime: 590
131427 views
285 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
John Henry Animation Part Two of Two
John Henry - Part 2 of 2
Disney's short animation about the legend John Henry. John Henry was a former slave who's mighty strength made him one of the earliest African-American role models. Wielding a sledge hammer forged from the chains that bound him in servitude, he was a one-man railroad crew who "could move mountains". He is put to the ultimate test when he faces a mechanical power hammer that threatens to take away his land.
Runtime: 83
69386 views
84 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
John Henry Folklore
John Henry (On My Own Folklore)
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Folklore on Stage:The Legend of John Henry
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