NINE POUND HAMMER IS TOO HEAVY
As recorded by the Monroe Brothers, 1936. (Bluebird B-6422, Montgomery Ward M-4747)

1. Nine-pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, now, for my size.
Roll on, buddy; don’t you roll so slow.
Baby, how can I roll when the wheel won’t go?

2. Ain’t one hammer in this town
That ring like mine, that ring like mine,
Ring like silver and shine like gold,
Ring like silver and shine like gold.

3. Somebody stole my nine-pound hammer.
They took it and gone; they took it and gone.
Roll on, buddy; don’t you roll so slow.
Baby, how can I roll when the wheel won’t go?

4. Up on the mountain for to see my darlin’
And I ain’t comin’ back; no, I ain’t comin’ back.
Roll on, buddy; don’t you roll so slow.
Baby, how can I roll when the wheel won’t go?

5. Nine-pound hammer that killed John Henry
Ain’t a-gonna kill me, ain’t a-gonna kill me.
Roll on, buddy; don’t you roll so slow.
Baby, how can I roll when the wheel won’t go?

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This is sung in call-and-response fashion, but I have omitted the responses from the above transcription. It actually goes like this:

1. Nine-pound hammer (nine-pound hammer) is a little too heavy (little too heavy)
For my size (for my size), now, for my size.
Roll on, buddy (roll on, buddy); don’t you roll so slow (don’t you roll so slow).
Baby, how can I roll (baby, how can I roll) when the wheel won’t go?

2. Ain’t one hammer (ain’t one hammer) in this town (in this town)
That ring like mine (oh, it rings like mine), that ring like mine,
Ring like silver (ring like silver) and shine like gold (and shine like gold),
Ring like silver (oh, it rings like silver) and shine like gold.