Johnny Cash - The Legend Of John Henry`s Hammer

Johnny Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight
He said "Before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you," Said "Listen boy
Learn to hoist a jack and learn to lay a track learn to pick and shovel too
And take that hammer, It'll do anything you tell it to."

John Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies
John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times
The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money
He said, "I'll pay you a quarter at a time startin' tomorrow
that's the pay for a steel driver on this line."

Then the section foreman said, "Hey! Hammer-swinger!
I see you your own hammer boy but, what all can them muscles do?" and he said,
"I can turn a jack I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too."
"Can you swing a hammer, boy?" "Yes sir, I'll do anything you hire me to."

Spoken:
"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
John Henry raised it back til' it touched his heels then
The spike went through the cross-tie and split it half in two
Thirty-five cents a day for drivin' steel
"Sweat! Sweat, boy! Sweat! Only two more swings!"
"I was born drivin' steel"

Well John Henry hammered in the mountain
He'd give a grunt he give a groan every swing
The women-folks from miles around heard him and come down
To watch make the coal-steel ring "Lord! What a swinger!
Watch him make the coal-steel ring"

But the bad boys came up laughin' at
Johnny Cash - The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer

The Johnny Cash folk story drawn by Rodolphe & Max Cabanes The Full Johnny Cash Playlist here: http://bit.ly/JohnnyCash-FullPlaylist Get the Digital version ...

Johnny Cash - The legend of John Henry´s hammer - Live at Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash - The legend of John Henry´s hammer, J. Cash, J. Carter Track recorded Live January 13, 1968 at Folsom Prison Johnny Cash - vocal, guitar June ...

Johnny Cash-Legend of John Henry's Hammer

studio version-originally released in 1963 on Blood,Sweat and Tears.

Johnny Cash - Legend Of John Henry's Hammer

From the album "Blood, Sweat & Tears 1963"

Johnny Cash - Legend Of John Henry's Hammer

Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison.

Johnny Cash