Jessie Clarence Gorman - John Henry
Cheers
Pan
Cheers
Pan
|
You know, folks, there's just seventeen of us kids. There's eight boys, seven girls, and two other children - Lonnie Glosson, Arkansas Hard Luck Blues
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Here's a version I've been enjoying recently, not the classic John Henry but the classic Take This Hammer tune. Sid Hemphill, Lucius Curtis, Alec Askew and Will Head.
Hi all,
Lonzie Thomas recorded a terrific version of "John Henry" for George Mitchell. As with many of the versions we've looked at before, Lonzie's was played in Vestapol with a slide. Considering what a small percentage of his recorded tunes were played using a slide, Lonzie shows himself to have been a remarkably skillful and nuanced slide player. His droll sense of humor really comes out in his spoken comments. As is often the case, he used the slide to finish words or lines throughout his rendition, and where he did that I've used a hyphen to indicate it. We are so lucky that George Mitchell found and recorded Lonzie, for his music stands with the best in Country Blues from any period. John Henry was a little baby He was sittin' on his Papa's right knee Well, he picked up a hammer and a little piece steel Said, "This hammer's gon' be the death of ------." Said, "This hammer gon' be the death of me." John Henry told his Cap---, "Captain, when you go to town, Go, bring me back good old nine-pound hammer. Captain, I'll beat this steam drill d----, Captain, I'll beat this steam drill ----, I will beat this steam drill ----, Cap'n, I'll beat this steam drill down." John Henry told his Cap----, "Captain, a man ain't nothin' but a man. 'Fore I let another man beat me down in this steel, Cap'n, I'll die with this hammer in my ----, Cap'n, I'll die with this hammer in my hand, I will die with this hammer in my ----, I will die with this hammer in my hand." John Henry were on the right side And the steam drill was on the left "Before I let this steam drill beat me down, Sugar, I'll drive myself to d----, Lord, I'll drive myself to -----, I will drive myself to -----, I will drive myself to death." John Henry, he had a little wo---, And her name was Polly Ann John Henry got sick and he had to go home And little Polly, she drove steel like a m---, Yeah, little Polly, she drove steel like a man, Well, little Polly drove steel like a m--, Yeah, little -----, drove steel like a man SPOKEN: John Henry was on his deathbed, his wife asked him a question, had been there, she seed he was gon' die, she wanted to make him feel good. He asked a question: "Baby, who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet, Darlin', who's gonna glove your hand? Baby, who's gonna kiss your ruby cheeks, Now, darlin', who's gonna be your ---, Tell me, who's gonna be your own man?" SPOKEN: She done laughed, just like the women do all howadays time, she told him smart, she told him, you know: "Well, my Papa gonna shoe my pretty little feet, Then brother gonna glove my hand. Then my Mama gonna kiss my rosy cheek Now, darlin', I won't need no m--, Now, darlin', I won't need no ---, Darlin', - won't need no ---, Darlin', I won't need no man." SPOKEN: He asked her one more question, he just asked her one more question: "Baby, where'd you get them shoes you wear, And that dress you wearin' so fine?" Says, "I got my shoes f'om a railroad man, And my dress from a driver in the m---, Yeah, my dress from a driver in the mine." All best, Johnm Hi all,
Uncle bud posted an exceptionally nice version of "John Henry" by Leslie Riddle earlier in this thread at http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4256.msg59523#msg59523 . Leslie Riddle's time had a beautiful flow to it and something about the way he sounded his IV chord in Vestapol, where he played the song with a slide, is just beautiful. Lesley Riddle's opening line to his final verse is one we've not encountered previously in this thread. John Henry was a baby boy, sittin' on his Mama's knee Said, "The Big Bend tunnel on the C & O Road, Is gonna be the death of me, Well, it's gonna be the death of me. Well, it's gonna be the death of me, Lord, it's gonna be the death of me. John Henry went in the tunnel, he went in the tunnel to drive The rocks was so tall, John Henry was so small 'Til he laid down his hammer and he cried, Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried. Well, he laid down his hammer and he cried, Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried. John Henry had a little woman, her name was Polly Ann When Henry got sick and he could not work Lord, Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Polly drove steel like a man. Well, Polly drove steel like a man, Well, Polly drove steel like a man. Put one hole in the headin', you can put one hole in the side Well the mountain was so tall, John Henry was so small 'Til he laid down his hammer and he died Lord, he laid down his hammer and he died Lord, he laid down his hammer and he died Lord, he laid down his hammer and he died All best, Johnm Big Bill Broonzy's version 1951
John Henry said to his captain, A man ain't nothing but a man Before I'd let your steam drill beat me down I wil die with that hammer in my hand Yes I?ll die with that hammer in my hand Cause I?ll die with that hammer in my hand Now Lord die with that hammer in my hand John Henry said to his shaker, Now man, why don't you sing? I?m shakin twelve pounds from my hips on down Can?t you hear that cold steel ?. Oh don?t you hear that cold steel ring, Why don?t you hear that cold steel ring Oh don?t you hear that cold steel ring John Henry ?? that railroad track With a twelve lound hammer by his side Yes he went down the track but he never came back Cause he lay down his hammer and he ?? Yes he lay down his hammer and he died Cause he lay down his hammer and he ?? Yes he lay down his hammer and he died John Henry hammered in that mountain That mountain was so high The last words that I heard that poor boy say Give me a cool drink of water before I ??. Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I ??. Give me a cool drink of water before I die John Henry had a little woman And the dress that she wore was red And the last words that I heard that little girl say I ?m going where John Henry fell dead Yes I ?m going where John Henry fell dead Cause I ?m going where John Henry fell ?. Yes I ?m going where John Henry fell dead John Henry was a little baby boy She held him in the palm of his hand And the last words that I know that poor boy said I?m going to be a steel driving man I?m going to be a little steel driving man I?m going to be a steel driving man Hi all,
Jesse Fuller recorded an epic version of "John Henry", accompanying himself with a slide in Vestapol as so many other players had done. One really cool touch in his rendition is that he waits until the next-to-last line of his second verse before bringing in his high-hat, and when he does, that percussion really gooses things. His slide playing here is exciting, and he uses the slide to start or finish lines occasionally during the course of his rendition. Where that happens, it is indicated with a dash. I think his guitar playing is terribly under-rated--by the time he gets to his outro, he is really tearing along, just screaming. Here is the performance, which incidentally ends at 4:44 with an additional five minutes or so of silence, for some reason. SOLO John Henry, when he was a little baby He sat on his Papa's knee And the first piece of steel that he ever seed, He said, "Gonna be the death of me, Yes, this is gonna be the death of me. Of me, of me, This is gonna be the death of me." John Henry had a little woman Her name was Sarah Ann When John Henry was on his dyin' bed Lord, she drive steel just like a man She drive steel just like a man Like a man, like a man She drive steel just like a man John Henry said he was born in Texas Some said he was born in Maine John Henry was born down in North Carolina He's the leader of a steel-drivin' gang, Lord, Lord He's the leader of a steel-drivin' gang ---------, of a gang He's the leader of a steel-drivin' gang John Henry said to his captain, "When you go to town, Bring me back a nine-pound hammer, I'm goin' to beat that steam drill ---- I'm gonna beat that steam drill down. Mmmm down, oh down I'm gonna beat that steam drill down." John Henry went up on the mountain Hammered that great nine-pound He drove steel three days and nights Lord, the big rock come a-tumblin' ---- Oh, that big rock come a-tumblin' down Tumblin' down, tumblin' down Lord, the big rock come a-tumblin' down John Henry said to his shaker, "What seem to be the trouble with you?" That Big Bend Tunnel on the CVQ, Lord, it was gonna be the death of --- Lord, it's gonna be the death of him Of ---, of you Lord, it's gonna be the death of him "Where'd you get that pretty little red hat, Shoes and stockings so fine?" "Got this hat from a railroad man, Got these stockings from a driver in the mine. In the mine, in the mine Got these stockings from a driver in the mine" "Now, who gonna shoe your little feet? Who gonna glove your hand? Who gonna kiss your rosy cheeks? Lord, who's gonna be your man? Says now, who's gonna be your man?" "Papa gonna shoe my little feet, Papa's gonna glove my hand, Papa gonna kiss my rosy cheeks, Lord, and Papa's gonna be my man. Oh, Papa's gonna be my man. Oh, Papa's gonna be my man. Oh, Papa's gonna be my ----" SOLO Now, when John Henry died Buried him in the sand Three of his womens come a-passin' by, singin' "This sure been a steel-drivin' man, Sure been a steel-drivin' man." OUTRO All best, Johnm Hi all,
Carl Martin did a version of "John Henry" on his Testament album, for which he played mandolin in G, accompanied by Johnny Young on guitar, also working out of the G position. This is one of the versions that is more bare bones in terms of telling the story, as opposed to some of the epic versions. Carl Martin takes some terrific mandolin solos on it, though, and as most often seems to be the case, he has some different twists and turns of phrase in his lyrics. John Henry was a little man Settin' on his Papa's knee, and said, "Drivin' steel on this B & O road, Gonna cause the death of me, It's gonna cause the death of me." SOLO ON TAG John Henry said to his captain, "A man ain't nothin' but a man. And before I'll be governed by this steel drill there, I will die with my hammer in my hand, I'm gonna die with this hammer in my hand." FULL SOLO John Henry told his steel shaker, "Shaker you had better pray. Because if I miss this eagle steel, Lord, tomorrow be your buryin' day Lord, tomorrow'll be your buryin' day Yes, tomorrow be your bury, buryin' day, go buddy, Tomorrow be your buryin' day FULL SOLO All best, Johnm Hi all
Arthur Bell did a nice unaccompanied version of John Henry, for the LoC, in 1939, at Camp No. 5, Cummings State Farm, Gould, Arkansas. https://archive.org/details/ArthurBell-JohnHenry Cheers Pan Hi all,
Dock Boggs recorded "John Henry" on June 4, 1964, with banjo in gDGBD tuning in G and Mike Seeger backing him on guitar. Dock almost gets a Buegrassy sound on his rendition, especially behind the last two lines of each verse. I've had a difficult time hearing some lines and would appreciate correction/corroboration, especially at the indicated places in verses two and three. John Henry was a little baby Singin' on his daddy's knee 'Bout, "The Big Bend Tunnel on the C & O road, It's a-gonna be the death of me, It's a-gonna be the death of me John Henry put [a hole] in the rock Looked down in the [sign] Oh, the rock was so tall, John Henry was so small He laid down his hammer and he cried, He laid down his hammer and he cried Well, the people all heard a mighty rumblin' Thought the tunnel might be fallin in John Henry said, "It's nothin' in the world But my steel hammer [horsin'] in the wind But my steel hammer [horsin'] in the wind John Henry said to his shaker, "Boy, you'd better pray. If ever I miss this six-foot steel, Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day." John Henry had a little woman Her name was Julie Ann He hugged her, he kissed her before he died, said, "So Julie, do the best you can, then, Oh Julie, do the best you can All best, Johnm Hi all,
Gabriel Brown recorded two versions of "John Henry" at a field recording session in Eatonville, Florida on June 20, 1935, one an instrumental version played in C position in standard tuning and one an "almost instrumental" version played in Vestapol with a slide, in which he sang one verse. I hadn't listened to the Vestapol version in a while, and forgotten what a showpiece it is, with very dynamic playing, moving the melody around to different registers, et al. Here is the one verse Gabriel Brown sang. John Henry had a little woman Dress she wore was red She went on down to the railroad track, says, "Goin' to where my man fell dead, Goin' to where my man fell dead." All best, Johnm Hi all
Pinetop Slim was discussed in this thread a while ago. http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=7589.msg60864#msg60864 Here's his version of John Henry: Cheers Pan Laura
I can't stop listening to John Lee Ziegler's "Who's Gonna Be Your Man". The way he sings it is great. I notice JohnM mentioned this version previously in the thread but thought I'd add my transcription since I'd already done one. No guarantee on the accuracy - can barely make out the first few lines!
John Lee Ziegler Who's Gonna Be Your Man ? What am (?) worry land(?) Brothers(?) in that worry(?) What am rock and wind and worried lamb(?) Tell me (?) shoes your feet, who gonna glove your hands? Who gonna kiss your little rosy cheeks and who gonna be your ---- Tell me who gonna be your man? Who gonna be your ---- Tell me who gonna be your man? Tell me where did you get them pretty little shoes? Dress you wear so fine. Got my shoes from a railroad man got my dress from a man never ---- Got my dress from a man, never mind. Tell me (?) shoes your feet. Who gonna glove your hands? Who gonna kiss your little rosy cheeks and who gonna be your ---- Tell me who gonna be your man? Don't (?) Well my father gonna shoe my feet, mother gonna glove my hands. Brother gonna kiss my rosy cheeks and I won't need no ---- Tell me I won't need no man. I won't need no ---- tell me I won't need no man. Henry had a little woman, name was Polly-Ann. John got sick in that bed one day and Polly drove -- like a ---- Yes and Polly drove them steels like a man. Laura, you sure picked a winner. That's a beautiful performance and I think that John Lee Ziegler had an unforgettable voice, though really tough to understand at times. I'll see if I can get anything more of it. I'll think I'll just copy what you did here and capitalize any things I'm hearing differently. That first stanza is the hardest to hear for me, but I realized I'd heard an Old-Time Gospel Song called "Rockin' In A Weary Land", and I think that's what he's singing in the main there. The very end of the third line of that opening stanza I can't hear well at all. It would be cool to get some John Lee Ziegler transcribed.
All best, Johnm WELL, THEY'RE ROCKIN 'ROUND THAT WEARY land ROCKIN' 'ROUND that WEARY--- WELL, THEY'RE ROCKIN' WHEN THAT WEARY [?] Tell me WHO GON' shoes your feet, Who gonna glove your hands? Who'S GON' kiss your little rosy cheeks and who gonna be your ---- Tell me who gonna be your man? Who gonna be your ---- Tell me who gonna be your man? Tell me where did you get them pretty little shoes? Dress you wear so fine. Got my shoes from a railroad man got my dress from a man never ---- Got my dress from a man, never mind. Tell me WHO GA' shoes your feet? Who'S gonna glove your hands? Who'S gonna kiss your little rosy cheeks and who'S gonna be your ---- Tell me who'S gonna be your man? (SPOKEN: THEM CHILDREN OVER YONDER THERE'S DANCE) Well my father gonna shoe my feet, MAMA'S gonna glove my hands. Brother gonna kiss my rosy cheeks and I won't need no ---- Tell me I won't need no man. I won't need no ---- tell me I won't need no man. Henry had a little woman, name was Polly-Ann. John got sick in that bed one day and Polly drove -- like a ---- Yes and Polly drove them steels like a man.
Tags: Pink Anderson Henry Thomas Two Poor Boys Gabriel Brown Furry Lewis Leadbelly Henry Johnson Frank Hovington John Henry John Garst Connie Williams John Lee Ziegler Jesse Fuller tuba Arvella Gray Lesley Riddle Lonzie Thomas Arthur Bell Tommy Jarrell John Lee Hooker Reese Crenshaw gospel A capella Sid Hemphill Jimmie Owens Lilly Brothers Big Boy Henry Archie Edwards George Pegram Buell Kazee
|