The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #55453 Message #863254
Posted By: Joe Offer
09-Jan-03 - 11:23 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Nine Pound Hammer
Subject: ADD: John Henry / Nine Pound Hammer
In Land Where the Blues Began, Alan Lomax calls this a work-song version of "John Henry." Singer was "Blind Sid" Hemphill.
1.
This is the hammer
Killed John Henry,
Laid him low,
Laid him low.
2.
Take this hammer
To the captain,
Tell him he's gone,
Tell him he's gone.
3.
When you hear that
Bulldog a-barkin,
Somebody roun,
Somebody roun,
4.
When you hear that
Peafowl a-hollerin,
G'ina rain,
G'ina rain.
5.
I don't like no
Right black woman,
Black myself,
Black myself