Cash, Johnny - The Legend Of John Henry's Hammer Lyrics






John Henry's Papy woke him up one midnight
He said before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you, listen boy,
Said learn to ball a jack, learn to lay a track, learn to pick and shovel too, and take my hammer, it'll do anything you tell it to

John Hery's mammie had about a dozen babies, John Henry's papie told tale about a dozen times
The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money, he said I'll pay you quarter at a time, startin' tomorow, that's the pay for a steel driver on this line

Then the section foreman said hey hammer swinger, I see you brought your own hammer boy, but what else can all those muscles do?
And he said, I can turn a jack, I can lay a track, I can pick and shovel too
(can you swing a hammer boy?)
I can I'll do anything you hire me to

Now ain't you something so high and mighty with your muscles, just go ahead pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer

He said get a rusty spike and swing it down three times, I'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to, go on and do what you say you can do

With a steep nose hammer on a four foot switch panel, John Henry raised it back till it touched his heels, then the spike went through the cross tie and it split it half in two, 35 cents a day for driven steel,
(sweat sweat boy, sweat, you owe me two more swings)
I was born for driven steel

Well John Henry hammered in the mountain, he'd give a grunt and he'd give groan with every swing, the women folks for miles around, heard him and come down, to watch him make the cold steel ring, Lord what a swinger, just listen to that cold steel ring,

But the bad boss come up laughing at John Henry, said you full of vinegar now, but you bout through, were gonna get a steam drill to do your share of drivin, then what's all them muscles gonna do, huh John Henry, gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you

John Henry said I feed four little brothers, and my baby sister's walking on her knees, did the Lord say that machines awtta take the place of living, and what's a subsitute for bread and beans, I ain't seen it, do engines get rewarded for their steam

John Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner now, had thirty minutes to rest before the bell, the mine boss hollered get up whoever you are and get a pick ax, give me enough coal to start another hill, and keep it burning, mine me enough to start another hill

John Henry said to his captain, a man ain't nothin but a man, but if you bring that steam drill round, I'll beat it fair and honest, I'll die with my hammer in my hand, but I'll be laughing, cuz you can't replace a steel driven man

There was a big crowd of people at the mountain, John Henry said to the steam drill how is you, pardon me mister steam drill, I suppose you didn't hear me, I said how you, well can you turn a jack, can you lay a track, can you pick and shovel too, listen this hammer swingers talkin' to you

2000 people hollered go John Henry, then somebody hollered the mountain's caving in, John Henry told the captain, tell the kind folks not to worry, that ain't nothin but my hammer suckin' wind, keeps me breathing, a steel drivers muscle I intend,

Captain tell the people move back further, I'm at the finish line and I ain't no drill, she's so far behind you ain't got the brains to quit it, when she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills, Lord Lordy, when she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills

Well John Henry had a little woman, I believe the lady's name was Polly Ann, yeah that was his good woman, John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home, he layed down to rest his weary back and early next morining he said come here Polly Ann come here sugar, ya know I believe this is the first time I ever watched the sun come up that I couldn't come up with it

Take my hammer Polly Ann and go to that rail road, swing that hammer like you seen me do it, and when your swinging with the lead men, they'll all know they'll all know your John Henry's woman, but tell them that's not all I can do, tell em I can hoist a jack, and I can lay a track, I can pick and shovel too, aint no machine can, that's been proved to you

There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house, the section hands laid him in the sand, trains go by on the rails John Henry laid, they slow down and take off their hats, the men do, when they come to the palce John Henrys laid, rests on his back, some say mornin steel driver you sure were a hammer swinger, then they go along pickin up speed, clikty clak, clikty clak, down there lies a steel driven man oh Lord, down there lies a steel driven man, down there lies a steel driven man oh Lord, down there lies a steel driven man





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Cash, Johnny The Legend Of John Henry's Hammer Comments
  1. L.... T....

    K mirada hermosa k música esa voz inconfundible johnny me encantas eres un amor

  2. A.... T....

    America...your experience may differ.

  3. M.... C....

    Everyone's all like "JOHN HENRY IS SO UNDERAPPRECIATED" and I'm over here like "he was one of many people, just you rember him... and we learned about him in elementary." Like, okay boomers...

  4. A.... T....

    How far did John swing down on that first swing.!? #maths

  5. M.... C....

    it's like raiders of the lost ark. wey ha.

  6. A.... T....

    Do the maths.

  7. A.... T....

    And that whast his good woman. #pollyanne,😁

  8. B.... C....

    Love John Henry

  9. A.... T....

    John Henry had some women now, but this not the time, place, or song about that.😶

  10. A.... T....

    That hammer's on lone boi now.. don't fergit.😶🤠

  11. F.... D....

    Nice to read all of this admiration for a song about a black man.

    F.... D....

    Not sure many of these people in the comments realize that he was Black. Some folks are ignorant of that fact.

    F.... D....

    @Valore Dramack sad, but true.

  12. J.... D....

    I have worked construction for years and if you say grab the sledge and you don’t say grab the John Henry, i’ll slap you and you’ll loose your spots bambi

  13. X.... M....

    I think it's crazy I was born 2 hours after Johnny Cash died like we lost a great singer and got a nobody

  14. J.... O....

    Awesome!!

  15. G.... N....

    “ I’ll die with my hammer in my hand” now that is a lyric that hits hard

  16. J.... C....

    Even though I knew about this song before GMM wonderful giving Johnny Cash some recognition!

  17. M.... M....

    Rhett and Link brought me here (although I love Johnny Cash, so i am not mad) like if you are from GMM.☺

    M.... M....

    @Kali Jean - Singer/Songwriter EVERYONE KNOWS ME mwuahahahaaaaaaa *cough cough*

    M.... M....

    @Liam Winfrey illuminati confirmed

    M.... M....

    Moriah MIller yep she's famous.

    M.... M....

    What video

  18. R.... B....

    Thumbs Up If Your Listening To Johnny Cash In 2019 And 2020

  19. S.... B....

    I keep forgetting what obum said! He'll rewrite history. The hell he will!

  20. S.... B....

    John Henry was not BLACK! Anyone want to know where he's at rest? Cut the shit out! I'm his grand niece!

  21. S.... B....

    A dozen babies! Good lord. No walls at all 😆

  22. J.... H....

    Cash's version is Orwellian as we are all about to be replaced by soulless machines. I'll die with my hammer in my hand.

  23. j.... e....

    Long Live Johnny Cash

  24. Y.... N....

    John Cash 🔥

  25. l.... ....

    my father and i are masons. he's working on 35 years this year. he always says he'll die with his hammer in his hand
    he'll be laughing though
    may have to bury him in the footing one day. it's what he would have wanted anyway

  26. H.... H....

    The funny thing about John Henry is it's a southern born tale, but he was originally written as a black man. Not to sjw it up, but it gives me a giggle. And the tale pretty much predates the civil war.

    H.... H....

    John Henry was a real person, not a written one. And yes he was African American. There is a statue of him in Virginia.

  27. L.... J....

    I still have about 30 LPs (Vinyls) of Johnny Cash and this is on one of them, including Wreck of the Old 97 and others.  They're all about the great men of earlier times who could only work with the sweat on their backs and hard manual labour.  The way Johnny Cash told stories - for he did not sing - was truly magnetic, and thought provoking.  He drew pictures in the minds of the people who listened.  Such a great loss when he died.

  28. F.... F....

    This song is so good that 446 people accidentally pushed the dislike button!!

  29. a.... ....

    Slayed it

  30. S.... B....

    It should be remembered. John Henry is real. My grand uncle. I still hear those words, you think you high and mighty. My own mother. Mom said piss and vinegar! I'm a a female. I'm my Dad's daughter. Owned my own home at 18yr old. Female! John Henry wasn't black. Quit making an obummer mess of our history. I dot love everything about it. It is the reality.

    S.... B....

    John Henry was African American, are you stupid? You don't know your history.

  31. N.... ....

    Johnny Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight
    He said "Before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you, " Said "Listen boy
    Learn to hoist a jack and learn to lay a track learn to pick and shovel too
    And take that hammer, It'll do anything you tell it to."

    John Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies
    John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times
    The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money
    He said, "I'll pay you a quarter at a time startin' tomorrow
    That's the pay for a steel driver on this line."

    Then the section foreman said, "Hey! Hammer-swinger!
    I see you your own hammer boy but, what all can them muscles do?" and he said,
    "I can turn a jack I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too."
    "Can you swing a hammer, boy?" "Yes sir, I'll do anything you hire me to."

    Spoken:
    "Now ain't you somethin'! So high and mighty with all that muscle! Just go
    Ahead, boy. Pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer!"

    He said to get a rusted spike and swing it down three times
    I'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to
    Go on and do what you say you can do

    With a steel-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle
    John Henry raised it back til' it touched his heels then
    The spike went through the cross-tie and split it half in two
    Thirty-five cents a day for drivin' steel
    "Sweat! Sweat, boy! Sweat! Only two more swings!"
    "I was born drivin' steel"

    Well John Henry hammered in the mountain
    He'd give a grunt he give a groan every swing
    The women-folks from miles around heard him and come down
    To watch make the coal-steel ring "Lord! What a swinger!
    Watch him make the coal-steel ring"

    But the bad boys came up laughin' at John Henry
    They said, " Your full of vinegar now but you bout' through!
    We gonna get a steamdrill to do your share of drivin'
    Then what's all them muscles gonna do? Huh? John Henry?
    Gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you."

    John Henry said, "I feed for little brothers
    And baby sisters' walkin' on her knees
    Now did the Lord say that machines ought to take place of livin'?
    And what's a substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it!
    Do engines get rewarded for their steam?

    John Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner nap
    Had thirty minutes to rest before the bell
    The mine boys hollered, " Get up whoever you are and get a pickax
    Mine me enough to start another hell and keep it burnin'
    Mine me enough to start another hell.

    John Henry said to his captain said "A man ain't nothin' but a man
    But if you'll bring that steamdrill 'round I'll beat it fair and honest.
    I'll die with that hammer in my hand but, I'll be laughin',
    'Cause you can't replace a steel-drivin' man.

    There was a big crowd of people at the mountain.
    John Henry said to the steam-drill "How is you?
    (spoken) Pardon me, Mister Steamdrill I suppose you didn't hear me. Huh?
    Well, can you turn a jack? Can you lay a track? Can you pick and shovel too?
    Listen, this hammer-swinger's talkin' to you.

    Two-thousand people hollered, "Go John Henry!!!!!"
    Then somebody hollered, " The mountain's cavin' in!!!!!!"
    John Henry told the captin, "Tell the kind-folks not to worry
    It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind, it keeps me breathin'
    This steel-driver's muscle it ain't thin.

    "Captain tell the people to move back farther
    I'm at the finish line and there ain't no drill
    It's so far behind that it don't got the brains to quit it
    When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills Lord, Lord
    When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills"

    Well, John Henry had a little woman
    I believe the lady's name was Paulie Ann yeah that was his good woman
    John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home
    He laid down to rest his weary back and early next mornin' he said,
    "Come here Paulie Ann, come here sugar.
    You know I believe this is the first time there ever was the sun come
    And I couldn't come up. Take my hammer, Paulie Ann and go to that railroad
    Swing that hammer like you seen me do it
    They'll all know your John Henry's woman but tell em' that ain't all you can
    Do
    Tell em'.........

    I can hoist a jack and I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too.
    Ain't no machine can that's been proved to you!

    There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house
    The section hands laid him in the sand
    Trains go by on the rails John Henry laid.
    They slow down and take off the hats, the men do
    When they come to the place where he's laying' retsina' his back.
    They say, "Mornin' Steel-driver, you sure was a hammer-swinger."
    Then they go on by pickin' up a little bit of speed.
    Clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack

    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man

  32. E.... C....

    “Johnny Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight
    He said "Before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you, " Said "Listen boy
    Learn to hoist a jack and learn to lay a track learn to pick and shovel too
    And take that hammer, It'll do anything you tell it to."
    John Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies
    John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times
    The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money
    He said, "I'll pay you a quarter at a time startin' tomorrow
    That's the pay for a steel driver on this line."
    Then the section foreman said, "Hey! Hammer-swinger!
    I see you your own hammer boy but, what all can them muscles do?" and he said,
    "I can turn a jack I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too."
    "Can you swing a hammer, boy?" "Yes sir, I'll do anything you hire me to."
    Spoken:
    "Now ain't you somethin'! So high and mighty with all that muscle! Just go
    Ahead, boy. Pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer!"
    He said to get a rusted spike and swing it down three times
    I'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to
    Go on and do what you say you can do
    With a steel-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle
    John Henry raised it back til' it touched his heels then
    The spike went through the cross-tie and split it half in two
    Thirty-five cents a day for drivin' steel
    "Sweat! Sweat, boy! Sweat! Only two more swings!"
    "I was born drivin' steel"
    Well John Henry hammered in the mountain
    He'd give a grunt he give a groan every swing
    The women-folks from miles around heard him and come down
    To watch make the coal-steel ring "Lord! What a swinger!
    Watch him make the coal-steel ring"
    But the bad boys came up laughin' at John Henry
    They said, " Your full of vinegar now but you bout' through!
    We gonna get a steamdrill to do your share of drivin'
    Then what's all them muscles gonna do? Huh? John Henry?
    Gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you."
    John Henry said, "I feed for little brothers
    And baby sisters' walkin' on her knees
    Now did the Lord say that machines ought to take place of livin'?
    And what's a substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it!
    Do engines get rewarded for their steam?
    John Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner nap
    Had thirty minutes to rest before the bell
    The mine boys hollered, " Get up whoever you are and get a pickax
    Mine me enough to start another hell and keep it burnin'
    Mine me enough to start another hell.
    John Henry said to his captain said "A man ain't nothin' but a man
    But if you'll bring that steamdrill 'round I'll beat it fair and honest.
    I'll die with that hammer in my hand but, I'll be laughin',
    'Cause you can't replace a steel-drivin' man.
    There was a big crowd of people at the mountain.
    John Henry said to the steam-drill "How is you?
    (spoken) Pardon me, Mister Steamdrill I suppose you didn't hear me. Huh?
    Well, can you turn a jack? Can you lay a track? Can you pick and shovel too?
    Listen, this hammer-swinger's talkin' to you.
    Two-thousand people hollered, "Go John Henry!!!!!"
    Then somebody hollered, " The mountain's cavin' in!!!!!!"
    John Henry told the captin, "Tell the kind-folks not to worry
    It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind, it keeps me breathin'
    This steel-driver's muscle it ain't thin.
    "Captain tell the people to move back farther
    I'm at the finish line and there ain't no drill
    It's so far behind that it don't got the brains to quit it
    When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills Lord, Lord
    When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills"
    Well, John Henry had a little woman
    I believe the lady's name was Paulie Ann yeah that was his good woman
    John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home
    He laid down to rest his weary back and early next mornin' he said,
    "Come here Paulie Ann, come here sugar.
    You know I believe this is the first time there ever was the sun come
    And I couldn't come up. Take my hammer, Paulie Ann and go to that railroad
    Swing that hammer like you seen me do it
    They'll all know your John Henry's woman but tell em' that ain't all you can
    Do
    Tell em'.........
    I can hoist a jack and I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too.
    Ain't no machine can that's been proved to you!
    There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house
    The section hands laid him in the sand
    Trains go by on the rails John Henry laid.
    They slow down and take off the hats, the men do
    When they come to the place where he's laying' retsina' his back.
    They say, "Mornin' Steel-driver, you sure was a hammer-swinger."
    Then they go on by pickin' up a little bit of speed.
    Clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
    Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man”

  33. f.... ....

    Old school country is the best country

  34. R.... G....

    I’m 14 turning 15 and let me tell you something rn. This shit beats the new “hip” music any day 😤

  35. r.... m....

    sould be a movie made in in tribute yo the legend

  36. S.... B....

    John Henry was a huge Russian American man. He wasn't black. Cut the lying shit out!

  37. J.... R....

    It's the Beatles, the rolling stones and supposedly no one can pick the 3rd but I think old Johnny Cash might be number 1. The numbers don't lie. They tell a story of their own.

  38. R.... J....

    and who TF tells, that Johnny was racist? For me there is only assholes or good people!

  39. S.... B....

    John Henry wasn't black! He was a big assed, Russian, Immigrant. My grand uncle.

  40. R.... K....

    London, UK, 1966: The Douglas House (Enlisted Airmens Club), just off Bayswater Rd. I saw Johnny Cash put on one helluva a performance. His show consisted of The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, and of course Johnny Cash. It was to start about 7pm. Johnny Cash didn't show up until 8:30pm. Meanwhile while waiting for him, The Carter Family & The Statler Brothers put an 'ad lib' show. Flowers On The Wall, The Class of '57, Daddy Sang Bass, etc. The ladies sang a lot of real bluegrass and some gospels, it was great. The Carter Family (June & Johnny were not married then) were getting very worried about him being AWOL, but he finally appeared, apologized for being so late. My guess, he was hitting the pubs and forgot the time. He was pretty stoned, but he called the Master of Arms up to the stage and asked if he would put a bottle of gin and a glass on a table on the stage. As the bottle and glass appeared, Johnny told the audience he would perform until the bottle was empty. He sang every song in his repertoire; it was around 11:30pm when he finished. After the show, he signed programs for another hour. He was so stoned, he couldn't talk, but he signed our program. As he handed it back to us, I noticed how skinny his forearms were. No meat on them hardly at all, physically he is in very bad shape. June Carter stood right behind him and she was very worried. It was a bad time in his life, and I'm sure she saved him from an early death. We got on our bus back to base very late for the 1.5 hr ride back. Never saw anything show that good; all for $8.00 ea!

  41. S.... ....

    What the got now ain't country. This is real country. Johnny Cash is my favorite.

  42. a.... ....

    Rage against the Machine

  43. B.... F....

    Funny some of y'all don't know the story behind the song.

    John Henry was a freed slave.
    Not an average blue collar worker in the suburbs.

  44. N.... ....

    I learned about tall tales while in elementary school and I loved it! Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan...etc. I’m sad to report that I had to teach my son about these stories because they were not taught in school. He is now 25 years old...sad.

  45. T.... F....

    Nowadays they have a machine that can do all that. but still a great song.

  46. S.... B....

    I ain't swung a two handed hammer in a long time. When I was in high school a buddy of mine's dad was a blacksmith and I apprenticed under him for years. Along with his buisiness he volunteered at Yosemite and worked the shop in a ghost town attraction. The cool thing about that was we would party after the season and since we worked for the stae parks department we got to party in state parks. One year we partied at Alcatraz, another we partied on the USS Balclutha. We'd spend the night party and get a little loud and have some fun.

  47. S.... B....

    Johnny sure could sing a rail ballad. One of my favorites is Merle haggard miners silver ghost. That is one haunting air.

  48. P.... l....

    Johnny cash wrote a song where he slyly hid the reference that all the lady's wanted his BBC.. OMFG, Johnny ffs, it's surprising they didn't kill your ass.

  49. P.... l....

    Owe me too more swings? thanks that's all I need to end your life for sure.

  50. P.... l....

    It's amazing to hear this, some of the circles he ran in hated this, even in his later years he still managed to piss off the country community. Country is just a hollywood version of folk music anyway, with a bunch of dogmatic shit thrown on top just to make a buck. Johnny cash is one of those original ninjas that injected soul into country and took for his wife country's Vergin Mary, and after she died he diversified country even more. If not for people like Johnny country would be a bunch of try hards holding on to the american nightmare. I'm saying I hate 80% of "country" music, it's mostly bastardized folk, and they don't care, they will steal from anyone. Travis Twit owes me money for even having the displeasure of hearing his shrill abrasive voice in fucking passing.

  51. W.... C....

    Country music 100 yrs ago: "Capitalism uses up men and spits em out only to replace em with a steel beast"
    Country music today: "I want a boat, and yeti cooler, and a big ol' house, OH PLEASE MAKE ME RICH"

  52. A.... ....

    I’m 14 right now I know I’m gonna grow up and take over my dads business but sometimes I wish I could be like this man

  53. J.... l....

    I'm 25 I've busted tail every day except Christmas since I was 16 I'm supporting 3 babies and a good hearted woman. I love this song and John Henry's work ethics thinking about it all helps me through those hard days when it's 20° for a high and the work never ends

  54. P.... ....

    Hard work . respect 👍

  55. L.... R....

    2:45 LORD WATTA SWINGER

  56. H.... D....

    My name is Henry so I dedicate this song to myself

  57. B.... E....

    John henrys story is there to tell people never give up o ur goals, as he told his son " i was a ska e and was working for something that wasnt mine, now im working on something that's mine and im not giving up whether im tired or hungry sundown to set we never give up"

  58. J.... S....

    Love hearing songs about steel driver's because that's about the closest to a wood splitter I have been splitting wood almost daily for the past 4 years started with an axe now I swing a 18lb maul that i machined my self on a fiberglass handle. I love the rush it brings I normally split oak and elm.

  59. J.... G....

    I play this song every time I have to do some digging. It is an inspiration to me!!!!!

  60. L.... h....

    BBBBBBBYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAATCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHH

  61. J.... W....

    I broke my wrist with a 5LB hammer.

  62. Z.... G....

    They sure dont make music like they used to!!

  63. w.... c....

    I love Johnny cash

  64. K.... H....

    Thanks much

    K.... H....

    We are going

  65. C.... V....

    My great grandfather retired from the RR as a Spike Driver, used a Hammer all day. He was about 5'6" and he didnt look big and mucular, but he was strong, even at 95 and Stubborn too. Had a farm think around great depression, once he lost that is when he started the RR.

  66. J.... C....

    Great song about a great man! Johnny C sure could belt out those tunes!!!

  67. S.... A....

    Everybody in this comment section is like 24-75 years old, probably as of 2018. I actually learned about Paul Bunyan and John Henry in Kindergarten and I’m in Alabama. So we didn’t stopped learning about hard workers and such. We value hard work still, not like the older generation doesn’t pound that into our head that it’s valuable to be a hard worker

    S.... A....

    17 years of age and many more to go. I’ll admit I’m not the man my father was but I’m working on getting there

  68. M.... L....

    THE ROCK!!!

  69. J.... ....

    People who worked on the railroads sang this song

  70. m.... c....

    I remember he died --- use power tools

  71. m.... c....

    Sad we live in a society that doesn't value hard work anymore.

    Never did - tax rates for money earned have always been higher than tax rates for money won in the stock market --- hard work is not the way to get rich -- Owners take the money that comes from the work of others

  72. t.... j....

    I’m a starting blacksmith and this song reflects on every bit of what manual labor was and still is

  73. M.... C....

    When America was America blue color I'll die to give my family a better live

  74. D.... J....

    I remember finding this song on a vinyl album when I was, maybe, 10. I love this song!

  75. c.... e....

    what does it mean to "Turn a Jack"?

    c.... e....

    crazy eddiy jacks used to be a twist up mechanism

  76. I.... I....

    For whatever strange reason this song /story makes me remember Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke.

  77. P.... 6....

    Love the outro with the female singers

  78. t.... ....

    Johnny cash was a treasure spreading folk tales in his ways

  79. T.... R....

    And now, I feel like a skinny little 3rd grader . . .

  80. S.... B....

    Thank you for a memory of my grand uncle.

  81. L.... C....

    My poppa used to sing these old folk songs. Sit out on the front porch with a guitar and sing songs just like this one to a little kid like me. He’d do it for years just because he knew it made me smile. Arthritis didn’t seem to ache as much when he’d sit in his rocker and I’d sit on that front step just listening to him pluck those strings...even if he couldn’t recognize his own reflection....he never forgot my smile. Last time I saw him he stuck his tongue out at me to make me smile. He fell asleep with a smile on his face and didn’t wake up. But I’ll be damned if I didn’t know how to turn the jack, lay some track, work a pick, and shovel too just to know the meaning of hard work. If poppa would work through arthritis to make his grandson smile what the hell can I do?

  82. 4.... ....

    Calling that this will be in fallout 76

  83. T.... F....

    1929, it was confirmed that John Henry was real.

  84. A.... R....

    its funny I am 15 I grew up with hard work in the mellon fields and I know what this is like, my brother and them plays Rap and gets mad when I play the legend Jonny

    A.... R....

    2018 Jonny Cash is still the best

    A.... R....

    I understand you. I hate rap and I'm 17

  85. I.... M....

    John Henry's hammer should be a minecraft item

    I.... M....

    Lol better than diamond

  86. s.... B....

    parden me I LOVE jOHNY EXCUSE ME

  87. f.... e....

    I am a rope and saddle arborist that does everything by myself. Fifty years old and tired. I relate to this notion about John Henry! The hardest work you can know...

  88. A.... B....

    I'm a chicken throwing man... People say that they can do do it all day but only make it one day up there... 32 chicken a minute for 8 to 10 hours a day... Come up here try me

    A.... B....

    Andre Brown : Naw. You go and throw all the chickens you want to throw! LMFAO!

  89. S.... B....

    What's wrong with a girl that can tell you about such a life? Glass ceiling will alway exist. Is the hateful bitches that hate a woman that will labor that hard to live. My question, were anyone of these, hateful bitches, buying and owning their own homes? Hell, no. Did nothing, but hate!

  90. h.... b....

    on a hott muggy day like today, and working like a bull, this song motivated me.

  91. N.... R....

    He just tried to save his family but his boss tried to change him for a machine then him died to try to save his job for his family and save his family so his boss basically killed him

  92. C.... H....

    Great song

  93. B.... S....

    Blood Sweat and Tears is one of my favourite JC Albums... such classic music. Busted, Casey Jones... thanks for posting this

  94. S.... B....

    This is my past. My Dad, actual was sent to West Point. His picture is all over this base. He went to Vietnam, along with a few friends, straight into the Army. Then, they returned home. The days of evading the military, then giving amnesty by our President, Reagan. So the retired military after years, went to Vietnam. That was pretty sorry, but the truth.

  95. L.... S....

    John Henry isn't an issue

  96. C.... M....

    Wish we could better replace shoulders and backs and joints ect. No one gets off on manual labor anymore.

  97. G.... w....

    I'm a AC installer and I do everything the old way I cut my own metal and I make my own Duct. I'll be up in the attics hammering everything together and it never fails somebody always ask me what's all that noise and I just tell him relax that's just my hammer sucking wind....

    G.... w....

    brent davis' cool things : Hey Brentwood it was hard for me to find a HVAC MECHANIC, to fabricate his ductwork. Would you be able to read my red lined plans? For the ductwork. When do you run ductwork in a new house? You mind telling me? When do you do ductwork in a commercial structure?

    G.... w....

    brent davis' cool things : I don't think you're telling the truth.

    G.... w....

    He’s telling the truth I’m a plumber and our hands will show you true

    G.... w....

    I ain’t but 175 pounds and 5 10” but my dead skin on my hand is a 1/4” thick , and ill shovel from 8-5 with no lunch, please invent a robot to do what we do

    G.... w....

    Gonna win

    I can relate. My ductwork days are behind me mostly do service work now but I haven’t forgotten how hard it was and not appreciated. Now commercial jobs are all made off site and guys are not learning how to build from scratch. .

  98. P.... H....

    "Did the Lord say that machines awtta take the place of livin? And what's a substitute for bread and beans, I ain't seen it, do engines get rewarded for their steam?" 🔥

    J. Cash 's view on the looming threat of industrial automation was clear...

    P.... H....

    So because you're too lazy to learn the new technology or change trades (I'm a former welder too, gone blacksmith.), you'd rather cry. Gotcha. You don't sound like any kind of man to me. Get your balls out of your purse, man up, and support your family. Don't have a family? Get your balls out of your purse, man up, and support yourself. Pussy.

    P.... H....

    Too true, this how we get replaced. The commentater above me is the highest form of cuck. He submits his his purpose not even to another man, but to the machine.

    P.... H....

    @tannerchase19Perhaps you can, but robots are much cheaper. And since Artificial Intelligence can teach itself to be better at what it's doing, eventually it will do the job much better than any human. New jobs will have to come up though, because if there's a shortage in jobs, we won't we able to afford the products being sold, thus the economy collapses. But we'll se what happens. Some people are too greedy.

    P.... H....

    That's actually one of the reasons why John Henry is famois, because he proved Humans are better than any machine, but he died doing it

    P.... H....

    Death to the globalists, Death to silicon valley and Death to all the left