I found a note on the floor, it almost sent me off in a trance. She said "It's nothin' that you've done, I'm just leavin' in advance" - Memphis Slim, Empty Room Blues
The first selection is 'John Henry,' a strong version.
Lindy
Edited to add: I purchased a download of the entire CD. The guitar playing sounded like someone else instead of Big Boy, and it looks like Lightnin' Wells plays guitar on most (maybe all?) of the tracks. Nice version of (Oh What a) Beautiful City. Check it out!
« Last Edit: March 08, 2017, 08:22:51 PM by lindy »
Hi all, I've recently found some versions of "John Henry" not previously posted to this thread. Here is one from Archie Edwards, the Washington D.C. barber, that he called "East Virginia John Henry":
SOLO
John Henry walked into the Big Bend tunnel Captain was by his side The rock was so tall, John Henry so small Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried
When I was in Roanoke city Comin' down Fifth Avenue Met a little girl, she's all dressed in red I said, "Honey, I'm crazy 'bout you, Lord, Honey, I'm crazy 'bout you."
Ain't gonna tell you no story I ain't gonna tell you no lie If I don't get that little girl I love Gonna take morphine until I die, Lord, I'm gonna Take morphine until I die
GUITAR REPEATS LAST LINE AND SOLOS
John Henry had a little woman The dress she wore was red She went down the track one day, she never came back She said, "I'm goin' where my husband fell dead, Lord, I'm goin' where my husband fell dead."
SOLO
The second features North Carolina banjo player George Pegram, recorded live at the Union Grove Fiddler's Convention in 1971.
Here is Gid Tanner's Skillet Lickers, with Riley Puckett singing, doing "John Henry". The clanging steel is a nice touch.
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: February 14, 2018, 06:26:11 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Here's a version of "John Henry" that I don't believe has been posted here before, by Buell Kazee:
INTRO
John Henry was a steel-driving man He drove for many of a crew And every time his hammer went down You could see that old steelman movin' through, Lord, Lord You could see that old steelman movin' through
John Henry married him a woman Her name was Polly Ann John Henry got sick in the tunnel one day And Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord Polly drove steel like a man
SOLO
John Henry stepped up to his Captain Says, "Captain, here I stand. If I can't beat your steel-driving drill, oh I Die with my my hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord Oh, I drive with my -mer, in my hand
INTERLUDE
John Henry hammered in the mountain 'Til his hammer caught on fire And the very last words I heard John Henry say, was, "A cool drink of water 'fore I die, Lord, Lord, Oh, a cool drink of water 'fore I die."
CODA
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: March 24, 2018, 01:36:16 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Here is a version of "John Henry" that I don't believe has been posted here before, by Sid Hemphill. Structurally, it's more like John Hurt's "Spike Driver Blues" than "John Henry" as it is normally sung. Sid sure had some great energy in his vocal.
I posted the John Lee Ziegler, sans video, in 2008, and it was posted again a couple of years later, at which time the lyrics were transcribed. It is a beautiful version. All best, Johnm