Lyr Req: Little John Henry (from Lomax, McCurdy)

Subject: Lyr. Req. Little John Henry
From: Gerard
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 01:07 PM

Looking for the lyrics to a song Alan Lomax sings on his "Cowboy Songs of The Old West" CD with Ed McCurdy. The song is called "Little John Henry"

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req. Little John Henry
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 06:21 AM

refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE JOHN HENRY
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 07:42 AM

LITTLE JOHN HENRY

1 It was early one mornin'
    An' it looked like rain,
    Way roun' that curve, Lord,
    I spied a gravel train.
    CHORUS:
    O my little John Henry,
    Gadamighty knows. (2)

2 Now where'd you get your learnin'?
    Please tell it to me.
    On the Gulf and Colorado,*
    Partner, and the Santa Fe.* (CHO.)

3 Now when you get a section,
    Lemme be your straw,**
    And when you get a daughter,
    Lemme be your son-in-law. (CHO.)

4 I got a woman in Dallas
    Work in the Baker Hotel.
    Some call her Maggie,
    Her name Katie Belle. (CHO.)

   *two western railroads
   **strawboss, or assistant

SOURCE: Alan Lomax, The Folk Songs of North America (Doubleday, 1960, pp. 562-4; with music)

MY LI'L JOHN HENRY

"Oh, where'd you git yo' learnin'? Please tell it to me."
"On de Gulf of Colorado, an' de Santa Fe."

    Oh, my little John Henry, Godamighty know,
    Oh, my little John Henry, Godamighty know.

SOURCE: John A. Lomax & Alan Lomax, American Ballads and Folk Songs (Macmillan, 1934, 1967, pp. 198-9; with music)

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req. Little John Henry
From: Gerard
Date: 19 Jul 03 - 01:08 PM

Thank you again, these are the lyrics I was looking for as well.
Wow, I am a newcomer here and find Mudcat an invaluable resource.

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req. Little John Henry
From: Art Thieme
Date: 20 Jul 03 - 10:59 PM

For years every time I heard Alan L. singing "Little John Henry" I would think it was "Little John Henry, he's got a mighty nose." It's a curse sometimes to always be looking for the pun of it.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req. Little John Henry
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Jul 03 - 11:50 PM

Fragment with Colorado Mountains rather than the Gulf of Colorado:

When John Henry was a baby
Sittin' on his mother's knee,
He said O the Colorado Mountains
Will be the death of me.

N. I. White, American Negro Folk Rhymes, coll. 1915-1916.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little John Henry (from Lomax, McCurdy)
From: GUEST,vince martin
Date: 22 May 10 - 11:23 PM

--alan lomax sang this song to me on w 3rd st in his apt in the village in the late50's-he loved it and sang it softly and thoughtfully--and i never forgot it--:)