The Legend Of John Henrys Hammer Chords & Lyrics - Johnny Cash

Capo 1st fret

[VERSE]
[A]John Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight.
He said, "Before the sheriff comes, I wanna tell [E]you.
Listen boy," He said, [A]"Learn to hoist a jack, and [D]learn to lay a [A]track.

Learn to pick and shovel too. And take my hammer.
It'll do [E]anything you tell it [A]to.

John Henry's mammy had about a dozen [A]babies.
John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen [E]times.
The [A]babies all got sick and when the [D]doctor wanted [A]money,

He said: "I'll pay you a quarter at a time, startin' tomorrow.
That's pay for a [E]steel driver on this [A]line."

[A]Then the section foreman said, "Hey, hammer swinger,

N.C
I see you brought your own hammer, boy,

But what else can all them muscle do?"
And he said, "[A]I can turn a jack, [D]I can lay a [A]track.

I can pick and shovel too." ("Can you swing a hammer, boy")
"Yes sir, I can do [E]anything you hire me [A]to."

[G]("Now, ain't you somethin', so high and mighty with your muscles.

Just go ahead, boy, and pick up that hammer. Pick up the hammer.")
He said, [G]"Get a rusty spike and swing it [C]down three [G]times.

I'll pay you a nickel a day for ev'ry inch you sink into.
Go on and do what [D]you say you can [G]do."

[G]With a steep-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle,
John Henry raised it back till it touched his [D]heels.
[G]Then the spike went through the crosstie and [C]split it half in [G]two.

Thirty five cents a day for drivin' steel.
("Sweat, sweat boy, sweat. [D]You owe me two more swings.")
"I was [G]born for drivin' steel."

[INTERLUDE]
[E]

[VERSE]
[E]Well, John Henry hammered in the mountain.
He'd give a grunt and he'd give a groan with every [B7]swing.
[E]The women folks for miles around [A]heard him and came [E]down

To watch him make the cold steel ring. Lord, what a swinger.
Just listen to that [B7]cold steel [E]ring.

[INTERLUDE]
[G]

[VERSE]
[G]But the bad boss came up laughin' at John Henry.
Said, "You full of vinegar now, but you 'bout [D]through.
[G]We gonna get a steam drill to [C]do you share if [G]drivin'.

Then what's all them muscle gonna do, huh, John Henry?
Gonna take a little bit of [D]vinegar out of [G]you."

[G]John Henry said, "I feed four little brothers
And baby sister's walkin' on her [D]knees.
[G]Did the Lord say that machines oughta [C]take the place of [G]livin'?
And what's the substitute for bread and [G7]beans? I ain't seen it.
Do engines get rewarded for their [G]steam?"

[G]John Henry said to his captain, said "A man ain't nothin' but a [D]man.
But if you'll bring that steam drill around I'll [C]beat it fair and [G]honest.

I'll die with a hammer in my hand, but I'll be laughin',
'Cause you can't replae a [D]steel drivin' [G]man."

[G]There was a big crowd of people at the mountain.
John Henry said to the steam drill, "How is [D]you?
N.C
Pardon me, Mister Steam E rill. I suppose you didn't hear me.

I said, how are you? Huh?
Well, [G]can you turn a jack, can [C]you lay a [G]track?

Can you pick and shovel too?
Listen, this hammer [D]swinger's talkin' to [G]you."

[INTERLUDE]
[G]

[VERSE]
[G]Two thousands people hollered, "Go, John Henry!"
Then somebody hollered, "The mountain's caving [D]in!"
[G]John Henry told the captain, "Tell the [C]kind folks don't to [G]worry.

It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind. It keeps me breathin'.
This steel driver's [D]muscle, I ain't [G]tin.

[INTERLUDE]
[E]

[VERSE]
[E]"Captain, tell the people move back farther.
I'm at the finish line and there ain't no [B7]drill.
[E]It's so far behind but yet ain't [A]got the brains to [E]quit it.

When she blows up she'll scatter 'cross the hills, Lord, Lord.
When she blows up she'll [B7]scatter 'cross the [E]hills."

[G]Well, John Henry had a little woman.
I believe the lady's name was Polly [D]Ann.
N.C
Yeah, that was his good woman.
N.C
John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home.
N.C
Early next mornin' he said, "Come here Polly Ann. Come here, sugar.
N.C
You know, I believe this is the first time I ever
N.C
Watched the sun come up that I couldn't come up with it.
N.C
Take my hammer, Polly Ann, and go to that railroad.
N.C
Swing that hammer like you seen me do it.
N.C
And when you're swingin' with the lead man,
N.C
You tell em that's not all I can do. Tell em,

[G]I can hoist a jack, and [C]I can lay a [G]track.

I can pick and shovel too. Ain't no machine can.
That's been [D]proven to [G]you."

[G]There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house.
The section hands laid him in the [D]sand.
[G]Trains go by on the rails [C]John Henry [G]laid.
N.C
They slow down, they take off their hats, the men do.
N.C
When they come to the place where John Henry's layin'
N.C
Restin' his back, some of 'em say,

"Mornin', steel driver. You sure was a hammer swinger."
Then they go on by pickin' up a little speed[G] .

([G]Yonder lies the steel drivin' man, oh, Lord.
Yonder lies the [D]steel drivin' [G]man.)

[OUTRO]
[A]
||: ([A]Yonder lies the steel drivin' man, oh, Lord.
Yonder lies the [E]steel drivin' [A]man.) :|| Repeat and fade