John Henry-Big Boy

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John Henry-Big Boy
Guitar in Vestapol tuning, with a slide. Un-named lead vocalist.
NOTE: The recording is in progress when it begins. Big Boy starts a coughing fit about verse three that lasts for several verses but the lead singer is not affected, and Big Boy's guitar playing does not falter at all.

. . . standin' on the side
Said, "The Big Bend tunnel on that C & O Road,
It's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
Lord, It's gonna be the death of me,
Lord, it's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
Lord, it's gonna be the death of me."

Johnny Henry was a little fella
You could hold him in the palm of your hand
Now, he said to his Ma, "When I grow up,
Gonna be a steel-drivin' man, yes, yes, Lord
Gonna be a steel-driving man."

Johnny Henry walked in the tunnel
With his captain by his side
The mountain so tall, John Henry so small
He laid down his hammer and he cried
Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried
Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried
Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried

Now, they heard a mighty rumblin'
Says, "The mountain must be cavin' in."
John Henry said to the captain, "Boys,
It's my hammer swingin' in the wind,
It's my hammer swingin' in the wind,
It's my hammer, swingin' in the wind,
It's my hammer, swingin' in the wind."

John Henry said to his shaker,
"Shaker, you'd better pray.
'Cause if ever I miss this piece of steel,
Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day, yes, Lord,
Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day.
Lord, tomorrow be your buryin' day, Lord, Lord,
Lord, tomorrow'll be your buryin' day."

Johnny Henry said to his captain, "Captain,
'Fore I ever leave town,
Give me a five-pound hammer and a whalebone hat
I'll hurry that old steam drill on down, yes, yes
Got to hurry this old steam drill on down.
Lord, I hurry that old steam drill on down, Lord, Lord
Lord, I'll hurry that steam drill on down."

Johnny Henry said to his captain,
"'Fore I ever leave town
, Give me one more drink of that old tom cat here,
And I'll hurry that old steam drill on down.
Lord, I'll hurry that old steam drill on down."

Now, John Henry said to his captain,
"Man ain't nothin' but a man.
'Fore I let your steam drill beat me down
I will die with my hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord,
Yes, I'll die with my hammer in my hand.
Lord, I'll die with the hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord,
Yes, I'll die with the hammer in my hand."

Now, the captain of the steam drill
Lord, he was mighty fine
John Henry drove down twelve foot of steel
While the old steam drill only drove nine, Lord, Lord,
While the steam drill only drove nine, Lord, Lord,
While the steam drill only drove nine, Lord, Lord,
While the steam drill only drove nine

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