John Henry was big an’ strong
But de iron man brung ’im down.
John Henry was big an’ brown
But de iron man brung him down.
John Henry say, “I got to go,
I can’t swing de ball no mo’.”
John Henry was a mighty man,
An’ he swing dat hammer.
[93] The first line of each stanza is sung three times as indicated in the first stanza.
In story John Henry’s deeds often assume magnificent proportions. Indeed, the stories about him are in many respects more interesting than the songs, for the stories usually have more range and reflect more imagination than the songs. Occasionally one can find a Negro who will tell the story simply and without exaggeration, but one usually gets a version which is more or less embellished with the legendary attributes and attainments of John Henry. In the following story, John Henry is credited with such powers as would make him a close rival of Paul Bunyan himself.[94]