John Henry's Wife

Subject: John Henry's Wife
From: Melissa
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 08:04 PM

While I was reading the current visible John Hardy thread, I started wondering whether there are songs about John Henry's wife. She drove steel like a man and that seems (to me) as songworthy as a man who drove like a man..

Is there anything like:

Sweet Polly Ann was a steel driver's wife
(and) whenever John Henry got down
She'd pick up her hammer and head down the track
You ought to see Miss Polly go to town
You ought to see Miss Polly go to town


I think I'd like to sing one like that IF it exists!
Does anybody know of a version like that?

Thanks,
M

Subject: RE: John Henry's Wife
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 12:23 AM

The version I have always known contains

John Henry, he had a little woman,
Her name was Polly-Ann
When John Henry he took sick and couldn't drive the steel
Polly-Ann, she drove steel like a man
Lord Lord
Polly-Ann she drove steel like a man.

As 'Lucy Ann', this is in the DT version.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: John Henry's Wife
From: GUEST,Electronics Andrew
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 04:31 AM

John Henry's wife had inductance
Her name was Milli Ann
Last words I heard MilliHenry say
I'm all choked up now you'r gone
All choked up now you're gone

Subject: RE: John Henry's Wife
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 10:25 AM

She might have had to use her joules to pay the rent, so she wasn't evicted from her ohm.

Subject: RE: John Henry's Wife
From: Melissa
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 11:55 PM

No songs about Polly Ann?

Subject: RE: John Henry's Wife
From: GUEST,John Garst
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 07:34 PM

John Henry's wife's name was Margaret Boston. In the course of changes in tradition, this came to be "Polly Ann."

Subject: RE: John Henry's Wife
From: GUEST,Ed Cefala
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 02:52 AM

Leadbelly sings about her in passing as Mary Magdalene.