{"source":"Free Chord Book","source_url":"https://www.free-chords.com","license_note":"Free for personal use. Lyrics and compositions © their respective songwriters and publishers.","tab_id":1067625,"song":"Legend Of John Henrys Hammer","artist":"Johnny Cash","content_type":"chord","tab_type":"Chords","url":"https://www.free-chords.com/song/1067625-legend-of-john-henrys-hammer-chords-by-johnny-cash/","api_url":"https://www.free-chords.com/api/v1/songs/1067625?type=chord","rating":4.14406,"votes":13,"content":"Capo 1st fret\r\n\r\nIntro:\r\n\r\n||:    [ch]G[/ch]    |     [ch]G[/ch]     |     [ch]G[/ch]     |     [ch]G[/ch]   :||\r\n|     [ch]G[/ch]     |     [ch]G[/ch]     |\r\n\r\n[tab]         [ch]G[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nHe said, \"Before the sheriff comes, I wanna tell you.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                    [ch]G[/ch]                             [ch]C[/ch]                          [ch]G[/ch]\r\nListen boy,\" He said, \"Learn to ball a jack, learn to lay a track.[/tab]\r\n\r\nLearn to pick and shovel too. And take my hammer.\r\n[tab]                         [ch]D[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]\r\nIt'll do anything     you tell it to.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]N.C.                                                         [ch]G[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]G[/ch]                                                [ch]C[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThe babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money,[/tab]\r\n\r\nHe said: \"I'll pay you a quarter at a time, startin' tomorrow.\r\n[tab]                                  [ch]D[/ch]                  [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThat's pay for a steel driver on this line.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]               [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThen the section foreman said, \"Hey, hammer swinger,[/tab]\r\nN.C.\r\nI see you brought your own hammer, boy,\r\n\r\nBut what else can all them muscle do?\"\r\n[tab]                                          [ch]G[/ch]\r\nAnd he said, \"I can turn a jack, I can lay a track.[/tab]\r\n\r\nI can pick and shovel too.\" (\"Can you swing a hammer, boy\")\r\n[tab]                                           [ch]D[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]\r\n\"Yes sir, I can do anything     you hire me to.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab][ch]G[/ch]\r\n      (\"Now, ain't you somethin', so high and mighty with your muscles.[/tab]\r\n\r\nJust go ahead, boy, and pick up that hammer. Pick up the hammer.\")\r\n\r\nHe said, \"Get a rusty spike and swing it down three times.\r\n\r\nI'll pay you a nickel a day for ev'ry inch you sink into.\r\n[tab]                               [ch]D[/ch]                        [ch]G[/ch]\r\nGo on and do what you say you can do.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]            [ch]G[/ch]\r\nWith a steep-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle,[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry raised it back till it touched his heels.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                [ch]G[/ch]                                                     [ch]C[/ch]                   [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThen the spike went through the crosstie and split it half in two.[/tab]\r\n\r\nThirty five cents a day for drivin' steel.\r\n\r\n(\"Sweat, sweat boy, sweat. You owe me two more swings.\")\r\n[tab]                                                      [ch]E[/ch]\r\n\"I was born for drivin' steel.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]                   [ch]E[/ch]\r\nWell, John Henry hammered in the mountain.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                                 [ch]B7[/ch]\r\nHe'd give a grunt and he'd give a groan with every swing.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                    [ch]E[/ch]                                 [ch]A[/ch]                              [ch]E[/ch]\r\nThe women folks for miles around heard him and came down[/tab]\r\n\r\nTo watch him make the cold steel ring. Lord, what a swinger.\r\n[tab]                            [ch]B7[/ch]        [ch]E[/ch]         [ch]G[/ch]\r\nJust listen to that cold steel ring.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]            [ch]G[/ch]\r\nBut the bad boss came up laughin' at John Henry.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                         [ch]D[/ch]\r\nSaid, \"You full of vinegar now, but you 'bout through.[/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]G[/ch]\r\nWe gonna get a steam drill to do you share if drivin'.[/tab]\r\n\r\nThen what's all them muscle gonna do, huh, John Henry?\r\n[tab]                                        [ch]D[/ch]                   [ch]G[/ch]\r\nGonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]        [ch]G[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry said, \"I feed four little brothers[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                           [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd baby sister's walkin' on her knees.[/tab]\r\nN.C.\r\nDid the Lord say that machines oughta take the place of livin'?\r\n\r\nAnd what's the substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it.\r\n[tab]                                                                           [ch]G[/ch]\r\nDo engines get rewarded for their steam?\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]         [ch]G[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner nap;[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nHad thirty minutes to rest before the bell.[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]G[/ch]                                                  [ch]C[/ch]                                [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThe mine boss hollered, \"Get up, who-ever you are and get a pickax.[/tab]\r\n\r\nGive me enough coal to start another hill and keep it burnin'.\r\n[tab]                                [ch]D[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]\r\nMine me enough to start another hill.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]         [ch]G[/ch]                                                                              [ch]D[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry said to his Captain, \"A man ain't nothin' but a man.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                    [ch]G[/ch]                                               [ch]C[/ch]                           [ch]G[/ch]\r\nBut if you'll bring that steam drill around I'll beat it fair and hon - est.[/tab]\r\n\r\nI'll die with a hammer in my hand, but I'll be laughin', \r\n[tab]                                        [ch]D[/ch]                 [ch]G[/ch]\r\n'Cause you can't replae a steel drivin' man.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]                     [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThere was a big crowd of people at the mountain.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                     [ch]D[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry said to the steam drill, \"How is you?[/tab]\r\nN.C.\r\nPardon me, Mister Steam Drill. I suppose you didn't hear me.\r\n\r\nI said, how are you? Huh?\r\n[tab]          [ch]G[/ch]\r\nWell, can you turn a jack, can you lay a track?[/tab]\r\n\r\nCan you pick and shovel too?\r\n[tab]                                               [ch]D[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]       N.C.         [ch]E[/ch]\r\nListen, this hammer swinger's talkin' to you.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]         [ch]E[/ch]\r\nTwo thousands people hollered, \"Go, John Henry!\"[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                                    [ch]B7[/ch]\r\nThen somebody hollered, \"The mountain's caving in!\"[/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]E[/ch]\r\nJohn Henry told the Captain, \"Tell the kind folks don't to worry.[/tab]\r\n\r\nIt ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind. It keeps me breathin'.\r\n[tab]                            [ch]B7[/ch]                   [ch]E[/ch]             [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThis steel driver's muscle, I ain't tin.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab][ch]G[/ch]\r\nCaptain, tell the people move back farther.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                            [ch]D[/ch]\r\nI'm at the finish line and there ain't no drill.[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]G[/ch]\r\nIt's so far behind but yet ain't got the brains to quit it.[/tab]\r\n\r\nWhen she blows up she'll scatter 'cross the hills, Lord, Lord.\r\n[tab]                                         [ch]D[/ch]                        [ch]G[/ch]         N.C.           [ch]E[/ch]\r\nWhen she blows up she'll scatter 'cross the hills.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]          [ch]E[/ch]\r\nWell, John Henry had a little woman.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                       [ch]B7[/ch]\r\nI believe the lady's name was Polly Ann.[/tab]\r\nN.C.\r\n           Yeah, that was his good woman.\r\n\r\nJohn Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home.\r\n\r\nHe lay down to rest his weary back. And early next mornin' he said,\r\n\r\n\"Come here Polly Ann. Come here, sugar.\r\n\r\nYou know, I believe this is the first time I ever\r\n\r\nWatched the sun come up that I couldn't come up.\r\n\r\nTake my hammer, Polly Ann, and go to that railroad.\r\n\r\nSwing that hammer like you seen me do it.\r\n\r\nAnd when you're swingin' with the lead man, they'll all know,\r\n\r\nThey'll all know you're John Henry's woman.\r\n\r\nBut, but tell 'em that ain't all you can do.\r\n\r\n[tab]              [ch]E[/ch]                                [ch]A[/ch]            [ch]E[/ch]\r\nTell 'em I can hoist a jack, and I can lay a track.[/tab]\r\n\r\nI can pick and shovel too. Ain't no machine can.\r\n[tab]                  [ch]B7[/ch]                [ch]E[/ch]           N.C.           [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThat's been     proved to you.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab]                    [ch]G[/ch]\r\nThere was a big crowd of mourners at the church house.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                                                          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThe section hands laid him in the sand.[/tab]\r\n[tab][ch]G[/ch] \r\nTrains go by on the rails John Henry laid.[/tab]\r\nN.C.\r\nThey slow down, they take off their hats, the men do.\r\n\r\nWhen they come to the place where John Henry's layin'\r\n\r\nRestin' his back, some of 'em say,\r\n\r\n\"Mornin', steel driver. You sure was a hammer swinger.\"\r\n\r\nThen they go on by pickin' up a little speed.\r\n[tab]                             [ch]G[/ch]\r\nClick-a-dee clack. Click-a-dee clack. Click-a-dee clack. Click-a-dee [/tab]\r\nclack.\r\n\r\n[tab]  [ch]G[/ch]\r\n(Yonder lies the steel drivin' man, oh, Lord.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                         [ch]D[/ch]                [ch]G[/ch]\r\nYonder lies the steel drivin' man.)[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]A[/ch]\r\n||: (Yonder lies the steel drivin' man, oh, Lord.[/tab]\r\n[tab]                         [ch]E[/ch]                 [ch]A[/ch]\r\nYonder lies the steel drivin' man.) :||  Repeat and fade[/tab]","plain_text":"Capo 1st fret\n\nIntro:\n\n||:    G    |     G     |     G     |     G   :||\n|     G     |     G     |\n\n\n\n\n\nLearn to pick and shovel too. And take my hammer.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHe said: \"I'll pay you a quarter at a time, startin' tomorrow.\n\n\n\nN.C.\nI see you brought your own hammer, boy,\n\nBut what else can all them muscle do?\"\n\n\nI can pick and shovel too.\" (\"Can you swing a hammer, boy\")\n\n\n\n\nJust go ahead, boy, and pick up that hammer. Pick up the hammer.\")\n\nHe said, \"Get a rusty spike and swing it down three times.\n\nI'll pay you a nickel a day for ev'ry inch you sink into.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThirty five cents a day for drivin' steel.\n\n(\"Sweat, sweat boy, sweat. You owe me two more swings.\")\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo watch him make the cold steel ring. Lord, what a swinger.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThen what's all them muscle gonna do, huh, John Henry?\n\n\n\n\nN.C.\nDid the Lord say that machines oughta take the place of livin'?\n\nAnd what's the substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGive me enough coal to start another hill and keep it burnin'.\n\n\n\n\n\nI'll die with a hammer in my hand, but I'll be laughin', \n\n\n\n\nN.C.\nPardon me, Mister Steam Drill. I suppose you didn't hear me.\n\nI said, how are you? Huh?\n\n\nCan you pick and shovel too?\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind. It keeps me breathin'.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen she blows up she'll scatter 'cross the hills, Lord, Lord.\n\n\n\n\nN.C.\n           Yeah, that was his good woman.\n\nJohn Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home.\n\nHe lay down to rest his weary back. And early next mornin' he said,\n\n\"Come here Polly Ann. Come here, sugar.\n\nYou know, I believe this is the first time I ever\n\nWatched the sun come up that I couldn't come up.\n\nTake my hammer, Polly Ann, and go to that railroad.\n\nSwing that hammer like you seen me do it.\n\nAnd when you're swingin' with the lead man, they'll all know,\n\nThey'll all know you're John Henry's woman.\n\nBut, but tell 'em that ain't all you can do.\n\n\n\nI can pick and shovel too. Ain't no machine can.\n\n\n\n\n\nN.C.\nThey slow down, they take off their hats, the men do.\n\nWhen they come to the place where John Henry's layin'\n\nRestin' his back, some of 'em say,\n\n\"Mornin', steel driver. You sure was a hammer swinger.\"\n\nThen they go on by pickin' up a little speed.\n\nclack.","chords":["G","D","C","E","B7","A"],"chord_diagrams":{"A":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,0,1,2,3,0],"frets":[-1,0,2,2,2,0]},"B7":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,2,1,3,0,4],"frets":[-1,2,1,2,0,2]},"C":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,3,2,0,1,0],"frets":[0,3,2,0,1,0]},"D":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,0,0,1,3,2],"frets":[-1,-1,0,2,3,2]},"E":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,2,3,1,0,0],"frets":[0,2,2,1,0,0]},"G":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[2,1,0,0,0,3],"frets":[3,2,0,0,0,3]}}}