Good God, why doesn't that man yodel and be done with it? - A woman in the audience commenting on Peetie Wheatstraw's signature "ooh, well well", recounted by Teddy Darby, quoted in Paul Garon's The Devil's Son-In-Law
Hi all, Here is a version by Henry Grady Terrell, recorded by Art Rosenbaum.
John Henry died on the mountain John Henry died on the mountain He was a-whupping steel, a-whupping steel Oh partner, he was a-whupping steel
I ain't gon' tell nobody my right name I ain't gon' tell nobody my right name My name is Sam, my name is Sam And I don't give a -- Oh partner, and I don't give a --
Anybody aks you, was I runnin' Anybody aks you, was I runnin' Now, tell 'em no, no, I was flyin' Oh partner, you know I was flyin'
I run 'cross Blue Ridge Mountain I run 'cross that Blue Ridge Mountain When the sun went down, when the sun went down Oh captain, a-when the sun went down
I don't think this was mentioned? Jimmie Owens did John Henry in the State Penitentiary, Richmond, Virginia, on Sunday, 31 May 1936.
John Henry was a little teeny boy Settin' on his Daddy's knee He pointed his finger at a little piece of steel "Lordy,that's gon' be the death of poor me, Lordy, that's gon' be the death of poor me."
John Henry went up on the mountain The mountain come crashing around He cast his eye 'tween the Lord and the sky Sayin', "It's nothin' but my hammer fallin' down, Lord, it's nothin' but my hammer fallin' down."
John Henry worked on the railroad That's where he earned his bread Lord, Rosie got a message 'way down home That old John Henry was dead That old John Henry was dead
SOLO
Lord, when John Henry went up on the mountain He went up to drive some ties They got a message 'way down home That John Henry wasn't no man of a mine That John Henry wasn't no man of a mine
"Tell me, where did you get those new shoes from, Dress you wear, so fine?" "Shoes came from a railroad man, And the dress from a man in the mine, Lord, the dress from a man in the mine."
SOLO
John Henry got drunk and begin to search his trunk Sayin' "All I want's my own." Said, "All I want is my .44 gun, And I'll blow her on down to my size, Lord, I'll blow him down to my size."
SOLO
Edited 9/17 to pick up corrections from Gumbo
Cheers
Pan
« Last Edit: September 17, 2014, 03:45:34 PM by Johnm »
FYI for folks not in the class, these songs were peformed a capella and were recorded by Dr. Cortez Reese in southern West Virginia from 1949 to 1953 and released on a CD called Work and Pray.
Waxwing, is this the "Work and Pray" to which you refer?
Hi all, Pan posted a really nice version of "John Henry" by Jimmy Owens three posts back in this thread, at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4256.msg88713#msg88713 , and I've done a start on transcribing the lyrics there, but I'm stumped by a couple of passages. I'd very much appreciate help with any of the bent bracketed passages. Thanks. All best, Johnm
Thanks so much for your suggestions, Gumbo, I believe they are all spot on. I will make the changes. Maybe not being a "man of a mine" means he was not a coal miner, but a railroad man? Why they would get a message at home to that effect I can't guess. I really like this version and especially like the line, He cast his eye 'tween the Lord and the sky
I wonder if it means that he is no longer a man of the mine? It would connect with the previous verse and make the following verse more poignant. Either way it is a lovely track with a great pulse. Another reason to love Weeniecampbell
Hi all, There is another really nice version of "John Henry" on the previous page of this thread by Reese Crenshaw, at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4256.msg88347#msg88347 . I've taken a run at transcribing his lyrics and would very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed passages which I've been unable to decipher thus far. Thanks for help with finishing the transcription. All best, Johnm
Hi all, There is another really nice version of "John Henry" on the previous page of this thread by Reese Crenshaw, at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4256.msg88347#msg88347 . I've taken a run at transcribing his lyrics and would very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed passages which I've been unable to decipher thus far. Thanks for help with finishing the transcription. All best, Johnm
In the third verse I hear "Been seven years on your chain gang."
Woody Guthrie also recorded a version with Cisco Houston in which John Henry is on a chain gang.
« Reply #100 on: September 18, 2014, 12:11:20 PM »
Thanks very much for the help, Jim. In re-listening to the line several times, I think he sings, Says, in five long years on your chain gang You don't dog nobody but me, etc. I will make the change. All best, Johnm
Thanks very much for the help, Jim. In re-listening to the line several times, I think he sings, Says, in five long years on your chain gang You don't dog nobody but me, etc. I will make the change. All best, Johnm
To me, it's very unclear, but I'll go along with 5.
« Reply #103 on: September 21, 2014, 10:51:19 AM »
Hi all, Here is a ripping version from the Lilly Brothers, Everett on lead vocal and mandolin, and Bea on guitar, with Don Stover playing the banjo--whew!
John Henry, he was a little baby boy No bigger than the palm of your hand His Mammy looked down at John Henry and said, "Johnny gonna be a steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord. Johnny gonna be a steel-drivin' man."
BANJO SOLO
John Henry, he said to his captain, "Captain, you goin' into town, Bring me back a nine-pound hammer For I want to see that railroad down, Lord, Lord, I want to see that railroad down."
MANDOLIN SOLO
John Henry said to his shaker, "Shaker, you better pray. For if I miss that little piece of steel, Tomorrow'll be your dyin' day, Lord, Lord, tomorrow be your dyin' day."
BANJO SOLO
John Henry went up on the mountain He looked down on the other side The mountain was so tall, John Henry was so small He laid down his hammer and he cried, Lord, Lord, He laid down his hammer and he cried
MANDOLIN SOLO
John Henry, he had a purty little woman Her name was Polly Ann John Henry took sick and had to go to bed Polly drove the steel like a man, Lord, Lord, Polly drove the steel just like a man
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: September 21, 2014, 03:09:12 PM by Johnm »
« Reply #104 on: September 21, 2014, 08:26:18 PM »
i dont know if this was shared before or not...
John Henry was a steel-drivin' --- John Henry was a steel-drivin' man John Henry died, a hammer in his --- John Henry died, a hammer in his --- John Henry was a steel-drivin' man
John Henry, he said, just before he died What are the two more roads that he want to ride Lord, John Henry --- Lord, John Henry said before he died Lordy, two more roads he want to ride Lord, he want --- Oh Lord, he want ---
Lord, I got up one mornin', well, it looked like rain Look around the curve, come a passenger train Lord, John --- Lord, John Henry said 'fore he died Lordy, two more roads he want to ride
John Henry had a wife, dress she wore was red Last word I heared her say, "I'm goin' where Johnny fell dead. Lord, I'm --- Lord, I'm gwine --- Lord, I'm --- Lord, I'm goin', John Henry fell --- Lord, I'm goin' John Henry --- Lord, I'm goin' where John Henry ---."
« Last Edit: September 23, 2014, 03:44:08 PM by Johnm »
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Charlie is the Father, Son is the Son, Willie is the Holy Ghost