Lyr Req: John Henry Jr (Merle Travis)

Subject: Lyr Req: JOHN HENRY, JR. (from Davis/Warrior River
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 06:01 PM

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."

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN HENRY JUNIOR (Merle Travis)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 05:38 PM

JOHN HENRY JUNIOR
Words, Merle Travis. Music, traditional: "John Henry."
As sung by Merle Travis on "Live (Recorded at San Francisco State College, 1965)"

1. Well, John Henry Junior wasn't nothin' like his dad.
He never worked a day in his life.
He slept in a pool room and bummed on the streets,
But he made his livin' shootin' dice, Lord, Lord.
He made his livin' shootin' dice.

2. Now John Henry Junior had a pretty little gal
Who would kneel with him down on the floor,
And holler: "Jody, pick the cotton in the forks o' the branch!"
Ever' time Junior rolled a four—little Joe—
Ever' time Junior rolled a four.

3. They was gamblin' one night in a back-joint room,
When the stakes they were mighty high,
When a big man he looked at little Junior and said:
"Gi' me back my money 'fore you die," Lord, Lord.
"Just gi' me back my money 'fore you die."

4. Well, John Henry Junior grabbed the money from the pot
And he headed out straight for the door,
But the big man caught him with a switchblade knife.
Now Junior won't gamble any more, poor boy.
Oh, Junior, he won't gamble any more.

5. Well, poor Junior's gal, when they told her the news,
Was hangin' out clo'es on the line.
She just shook her head and here's what she said:
"You can't roll a seven ever' time.
You can't roll a seven ever' time."

6. They buried John Henry Junior in the graveyard.
Well, they laid him down by his dad.
They put a tombstone between 'em; here's what it said:
"Here lies the good and the bad," Lord, Lord.
"Here lies the good and the bad."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr (Merle Travis)
From: GUEST,Red Berry
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 04:52 PM

I was a country music station manager and morning disc jockey in Baton Rouge, LA, when Merle came out with "John Henry, Junior." We sponsored a concert with Porter Waggoner and Merle Travis that year. I was backstage with Merle while Porter was on, and asked him if he was going to sing John Henry, Jr. He said he would be glad to if he could remember the words! I knew them by heart, so I wrote them out for him, and he sang it for us.

He was some guitar picker! Did you ever hear him play "Blue Smoke"? It was his own composition. Two of my announcers accompanied him on bass and rhythm guitar (I think it was rhythm guitar....been a long time ago) that night, until it came to that one. He told them to just "lay out, boys, because you'll never keep up on this one." When he played it we understood why.

Good memories of a great musician.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 11 - 07:47 AM

JHJ grabbed the money from the pot,
He made a run for the door.
A stranger caught Jr with a switch blade in his hand.
Jr doesn't gamble any more, Lord,Lord, Jr doesnt...

When they found JH's little woman.......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 11 - 07:24 AM

Now JHJ had a heavy-hipped gal,
She'd kneel with him down in the floor,
She'd holler "Jody picked cotton in the forks of the branch"
everytime Jr rolled a four,






When they found John Henry's little woman,
She was hanging out the clothes on the line.
They told her he was dead, this is all she said,
"You can't roll a seven everytime, Lord, Lord,
You can't roll a seven everytime.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: cfisch
Date: 24 May 07 - 08:19 AM

that's it! thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 May 07 - 08:56 AM

JOHN HENRY, JR. recorded by David Davis & The Warrior River Boys, appears on their album "Troubled Times," Rebel CD 1817, 2006. The song is attributed to Merle Travis. I transcribed this from a couple of sound samples:

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

* * *

One night he's a-gamblin' with a bunch of the boys.
The stakes was a-runnin' kind o' high.
Somebody 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."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: concertina ceol
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:09 PM

Do you mean the song?

Single girls, single girls where did you get your dresses so fine repeat.
etc.

I've been digging for big John Henry and he's so hard to please..
I've been all around the world.

If it is this song my friend sings it and I could get you the complete lyrics in a few days.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Peace
Date: 18 May 07 - 02:16 PM

There's a copy available on E-Bay. About $5.00. It's a 45 RPM of Merle singing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Peace
Date: 18 May 07 - 02:09 PM

I couldn't find the lyrics. Sorry. Perhaps someone will post them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: cfisch
Date: 18 May 07 - 08:22 AM

Thanks for the artist leads but I still can't seem to find the lyrics. Does anyone have a copy to the lyrics I could use?

Thanks,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Peace
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:49 PM

"David Davis & the Warrior River Boys, Troubled Times (Rebel)

Their second album for Rebel continues bandleader David Davis' Alabama family music tradition with songs like the supernatural-themed "Ballad of Sarah Malone," "John Henry, Jr.," "Evening Prayer Blues" and more."

Y'oughta find something there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Peace
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:41 PM

Merle Travis had a hit with John Henry Junior in 1966. Check that out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Peace
Date: 17 May 07 - 01:51 PM

John Henry Junior Van Brothers [in RCS] Eagle 309014 (lp)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: Peace
Date: 17 May 07 - 12:54 PM

Van Brothers

Subject: Lyr Req: John Henry Jr
From: GUEST,John Henry Jr.
Date: 17 May 07 - 10:47 AM

Hi all,
I have been looking for the lyrics for the song John Henry Jr which i hear a while ago but cant seem to remember the artist who sang it. It was a bluegrass singer/band but don't know who it was. I found it a while ago on Amazon.com but it is not finding it now. I woiuld buy the CD if I just knew who it was. I have googled many different ways with no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Cliff