JOHN HENRY, JR.
Words, Merle Travis. Music, traditional: "John Henry."
As sung by David Davis and the Warrior River Boys on "Troubled Times" (2006)

1. Now, John Henry Junior was nothin' like his dad.
He never worked a day in his life.
John Henry made a livin' drivin' steel rails down.
Junior made his livin' shootin' dice, Lord, Lord.
Junior made his livin' shootin' dice.

2. Now, John Henry Junior had a pretty little wife.
She knelt down with him on the floor,
Sayin': "Jody, pick the cotton in the fo'ks of the branch!"
Ever' time Junior rolled a four, Lord, Lord,
Ever' time John Junior rolled a four.

3. One night he's a-gamblin' with a bunch of the boys.
The stakes was a-runnin' kind o' high.
Oh, and someone caught him rollin' with a crooked pair o' dice.
"Give us back our money 'fore you die," Lord, Lord.
"Give us back our money 'fore you die."

4. Now John Henry Junior scooped up the pot,
Headed straight for the door,
But somebody caught him with a switchblade knife.
Junior he don't gamble any more, Lord, Lord.
John Junior he don't gamble any more.

5. Well, they took the news to John Junior's wife.
She's a-hangin' out clo'es on the line.
She's … looked at them and said:
You can't roll a seven ev'ry time, Lord, Lord.
You can't roll a seven ev'ry time.

6. Well, they took John Junior to the graveyard,
Laid him down by his dad.
They put a stone between them and wrote these words:
"Here lies the good and the bad," Lord, Lord.
"Here lies the good and the bad."