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The legend of John Henry is an iconic tale that has been told and retold in various forms throughout history. It is the story of a steel-driving man who worked on the railroad in the late 19th century.
- Kay Stevenson
The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer Lyrics. [Verse] John Henry's Papy woke him up one midnight. He said before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you, listen boy. Said learn to ball a jack, learn...
“Now ain’t you somethin’! So high and mighty with all that muscle! Just go. Ahead, boy. Pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer!” He said to get a rusted spike and swing it down three times. I’ll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to. Go on and do what you say you can do. With a steel-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle.
“The Legend Of John Henry’s Hammer” is a live version of the song recorded at Folsom Prison in 1968, which adds an extra layer of rawness and authenticity to the performance. The song tells the legendary story of John Henry, a steel driver who worked on the tunnel in West Virginia for the C&O Railroad.