The great banjo picker with Hilo
Brown on the timbaline is Earl Strutt!
Mr. Johnny Henry was a little bitty boy,
sitting on his mama's knee.
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel.
This hammer's gonna be the death of me,
Lordy,
Lord.
This hammer's gonna be the death of me.
Mr. Johnny Henry would open up,
he looked down behind the shine.
He was so small,
he laid his hammer down and cried,
Lordy,
Lord.
He laid his hammer down and cried.
Mr. Johnny Henry said to his captain,
you know I'm a Tennessee man.
Before I will let the steam drill beat me,
I'll die with my hammer in my hand,
Lordy,
Lord.
I'll die with my hammer in my hand.
Mr. Johnny Henry said to him,
I plead this man's case again.
Good boy,
that's only my hammer pulling wind,
Lordy,
that's only my hammer pulling wind.
Mr. Johnny Henry loved a little woman,
her name was Polly Ann. But Johnny got sick and had to go to bed.
Polly drove the steel like a man, Lordy, Lord.
Polly drove the steel like a man.
Mr. Johnny Henry said to his shaker,
said, son, I guess you'd better pray.
For if I should miss this little piece of steel,
tomorrow's gonna be your burial day,
Lordy,
tomorrow's gonna be your burial day.
Mr. Johnny Henry.
Thank you, neighbors.
Thank you, neighbors.
Thank you just a whole heap.
Thank you an awful lot,
neighbors,
we really and truly do appreciate the nice applause.
We hope you'll enjoy our little part of the program.