This is a weekly feature that will explore original songs and their covers about an occupation/vocation, such as a sailor, teacher, doctor, or writer. Now “If I Were a Carpenter” I would have led with that, but no, I am not that talented. Not likely any songs that celebrate my particular job(s) but this series is thankfully, not about me. It may however be about you or at least, “That Thing You Do” (and yes I am ripping off the 1996 film).

“John Henry” is an American Traditional song. It was first published in 1900 but had been around for a time before that, and we really don’t know who wrote it. There is also some debate about if there was a real John Henry. While there are many suggested origins, it’s believed by many that he worked on the building of the railroad in Virginia c.1870. It’s most likely the song is about more than one person, all rolled into one character and there’s certainly a lot of myth, but it made for a great story.

What we do know is that the occupation of John Henry in the song was a Steel Driver. His job was to use a sledge like hammer to drive a steel drill into rock. The drill was held held by a Shaker (mentioned in the song) who’s job was to turn the drill and clear or “shake” out the debris. The story of the song is in part an account of the end of the need for the Steel Driver. The eventual hole in the rock allowed explosives to be placed inside. This was also a period of transition from using black powder to much ‘safer’ and more powerful dynamite. The Steel Driver had to not only have incredible strength and endurance but precision, it was a highly skilled job. So kudos to John’s wife Polly Ann, as you heard in the song or can read about in the lyrics below.

As the song unfolds, a steam-operated drill was brought in to replace the Steel Drivers, but John Henry would not be bested by a machine. He raced it and he won, but his efforts left him weakened and he died.

“John Henry” had 308 versions when I checked it last year around this time, and it now has 322 documented. The traditional song is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index as Roud #790. That index of 25,000 songs was complied by Librarian Steve Roud. The first recording is the clip above by the Folk and Country pioneer Fiddlin’ John Carson in 1924. Carson was also the first to record another Traditional song ‘I’m Nine Hundred Miles from Home” and “The Drunkard’s Hiccups” – better known as “Jack of Diamonds” and also “Rye Whiskey“.

Merle Travis, the great Country Singer, songwriter and guitar player who pioneered a now popular Fingerstyle picking method (Travis Picking) performed this song frequently and he recorded it in 1947.

A notable instrumental version on harmonica is from the Folk/Country artist Deford Bailey who in the 1930’s was the first and only African American to be a member of The Grand Ole Opry until Charlie Pride’s induction in 1967.

There is some variation depending on who is singing, but here are the most popular lyrics used by Pete Seeger and in his tribute, Bruce Springsteen. (in the video clip at the end).

John Henry was a little baby, sitting on the his papa’s knee
He picked up a hammer and 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 sterm drill out on the job
Gonna whop that steel on down, Lord, Lord
Gonna whop that steel on down”

John Henry told his captain
“A man ain’t nothing 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 die 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
Just listen to that cold steel ring”

John Henry said to his shaker
“Shaker, you’d better pray
‘Cause if I miss that little piece of steel
Tomorrow be your buryin’ day, Lord, Lord
Tomorrow be your buryin’ day”

The shaker said to John Henry
“I think this mountain’s cavin’ in!”
John Henry said to his shaker, “Man
That ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind! Lord, Lord
That ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind!”

Now the man that invented the steam 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 mountains
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 a steel driving man, Lord, Lord
My daddy was a steel driving man”

They took John Henry to the graveyard
And they buried him in the sand
And every locomotive comes a-roaring by
Says “There lies a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord
There lies a steel-driving man”

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

I may have listened to about a hundred versions of this song over the years and there are so many great ones. But I have to say I think Bruce Springsteen did an exceptional job on his 2006 recording, bringing a new life and energy to the legend.

Lyrics from Lyrics.com