The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2219   Message #308850
Posted By: GUEST,furry
30-Sep-00 - 03:07 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Hesitation Blues + Spike Driver's Blues
Subject: RE: Hesitation Blues and Spike Driver's Blues
Here goes:

John Hurt's SPIKE DRIVER BLUES

Take this hammer to the captain; tell him I'm gone. (Repeat)

This is the hammer killed John Henry; ain't gonna kill me. (Repeat)

John Henry left this hammer by the side of the road
All covered in red, all covered in blood.

It's a long way to east Colorado. That's why I'm gone
It's a long way to east Colorado. That's my home
John Henry was a steel driven man. Now he's gone.

This is mixed up and out of order. Many variants exist, frequently all mixed up with the older song JOHN HENRY that it's based on.
I'm a little embarrassed to not nail them all. I named my band JOHN HENRY'S HAMMER.
John Henry is the quintessential hero of the industrial age which contrary to popular opinion ain't over. Spike driver is a prison song variant. John used to be working for top dollar on the railroad in the original (as he actually did if he exists beyond the Myth) but most spike driver variants, although they leave him driving steel, frequently make it sound like he is breaking rocks chain-gang style. I DON'T WANT YOUR COLD IRON SHACKLE ROUND MY LEG.

HESITATION BLUES
Gary Davis style
Some verses were presented earlier in the thread. Others are improve in nature:

I ain't no brick layer; ain't no brick layer's son,
But I can lay a few bricks till your brick layer come.

I ain't no chauffeur; ain't no chauffeur's son,
But I can do a little drivin' for you till your chauffeur come.

Tell me, how long do I have to wait?
Can I get you now or, woman, must I hesitate?

I ain't no rich man...

Here's a new one I am making up now:

I ain't no well digger; ain't no well digger's son,
But I can dig in your well till your well digger come.