Lyr Req: Jackhammer John /Jackhammer Blues

Subject: RE: Words for - Jackhammer John /Jackhammer Blues
From:
Date: 19 Jan 97 - 04:34 PM

Well I'm impressed!

Looks like you hit the nail on the head with this one (maybe using a Jackhammer[Sorry])

The first line sounds just like the one he keeps singing - and singing - and singing - ad nauseam

Will pass them on to him at the club on Wednesday and sure he'll be over the moon

Many thanks

Pete [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Words for - Jackhammer John /Jackhammer Blues
From:
Date: 18 Jan 97 - 09:20 PM

I also found one Woody did called "Jackhammer Blues". It starts out, "I've got those jackhamer blues, I've been trippin' on a hard rock pile" let me know if this sounds more like the one you're after. Bill

Subject: Lyr Add: JACKHAMMER JOHN (from Woody Guthrie)
From: Bill
Date: 18 Jan 97 - 06:40 PM

I don't know if this is the one you are after, but I found this in a Woody Guthrie songbook. It said, "Words and new music adapted by Woody Guthrie."
Bill [e-mail]

JACKHAMMER JOHN

Jackhammer John was a jackhammer man
Born with a jackhammer in his hand.
Lord, Lord, and he had them jackhammer blues.
I built your roads and buildings too,
And I'm a gonna build a dam or two.
Lore, Lord, well, I got them jackhammer blues.
Lord, Lord, well, I got them jackhammer blues.

Hammered on the Boulder, hammered on the Butte,
Columbia River on a five mile chute.
Lord, and he had them jackhammer blues.
Workin' on the Bonneville, hammered all night,
A-tryin' to bring the people some electric light.
Lord, Lord, well I got them jackhammer blues.

I was borned in Portland Town.
Built ev'ry port from Alaska down.
Lord, Lord, and he had them jackhammer blues.
Built your bridges, dug your mines.
Been in jail a thousand times.
Lord, Lord, well I got them jackhammer blues.

Jackhammer, Jackhammer, where you been?
Been out a-chasin' them gals again.
Lord, Lord, and he had them jackhammer blues.
Jackhammer man from a jackhammer town,
I can hammer on a hammer till the sun goes down.
Lord, Lord, well I got them jackhammer blues.

I hammered on Bonneville, Coulee too.
Always broke when my job was through.
Lord, Lord, and he had them jackhammer blues.
I hammered on the river from sun to sun,
Fifteen million salmon run.
Lord, Lord, well I got them jackhammer blues.

I hammered in the rain. I hammered in the dust.
I hammered in the best and I hammered in the worst.
Lord, Lord, and he had them jackhammer blues.
I got a jackhammer gal just as sweet as pie,
And I'll hammer on my hammer till the day I die.
Lord, Lord, well I got them jackhammer blues.

Subject: Words for - Jackhammer John /Jackhammer Blues
From:
Date: 18 Jan 97 - 04:58 PM

Greetings - and here's a poser!

A friend (yes I do mean a friend!) requires the words for a song he thinks is called something like:- Jackhammer John or Jack Hammer Blues thinks it's a Skiffle number from the 50's?

If anyone can help I would be grateful as he seems to think he's the only person in the North West of England - if not the world! who has heard of it

Take care - Great area

Pete [e-mail]