John Henry

Cat. #0161 (MFH #313) - As sung by Odis Bird, Marshall, Arkansas on August 6, 1958

VERSE 1
John Henry, he was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
And he shot him a man on th West Virginia line
And you ought'a see Johnny getin' away
An' you ought'a see Johnny getin' away

VERSE 2
O, he went to th East and he went to th West
And he went this wide world around
And he went to th river and he were baptized
But now he's on his hangin' ground
But now he's on his hanging ground

VERSE 3
John Henry, he had a little lovin' little girl
Th dress that she wore was blue
She come a skipin' thru the ole jail hall
Sayin', daddy, have I been true
Sayin', daddy, have I been true

VERSE 4
John Henry, he had another little girl
Th dress that she wore was red
She come a skipin' thru the old jail hall
Said, daddy, I'd rather be dead
Says, daddy, I'd rather be dead

VERSE 5
John Henry, he had a lovin' little wife
She poirnt to his scaffold high
And the very last words that we heard poor Johnny say,
I'll meet you in that sweet bye and bye
I'll meet you in that sweet bye and bye

Odis says, this is not about the colored man that drove spikes but about a white man called, John Henry.

Variants