7369 old music 2402 - KET

Program 15
John
McCutcheon
One of the things I wanted to do in this program was to show the African-
American contribution to what we consider basically “white” music—Appalachian
instrumentation and song. In the first song, for instance, I use the banjo, a West
African instrument (originally a gourd with a skin head and a long stick neck with
four strings attached) introduced to America by slaves.
Immediately before and after the Civil War, thousands of escaped and freed
slaves flooded the Appalachians, drawn by the isolation and lack of wealthy
landowners. Here the blending of Western European and African cultures began
creating a new and unique musical and dance stew.
Instruments:
banjo, guitar
John Henry
(Traditional)
This song has been called “the classic American ballad.” It is based on a true
story that happened during the 19th century while railroads were being built
through the West Virginia mountains.
John Henry was an African-American who worked as a “driver,” half of a “steeldriving
team” that bored holes into the mountains to help build tunnels. The other
half of the team was a “shaker” who held a long iron rod absolutely still while the
“driver” would swing his great hammer at the rod, striking it on the head and driving
it into the mountain. When they were done, they would pull the rod out, leaving a
long hole. They’d fill the hole with powder or dynamite, blow out that section of the
mountain, clear the rubble, and start again until there was a tunnel blown through
the mountain. It took great skill to do this work safely, and John Henry was
considered one of the best drivers in that country.
The story in the song itself concerns an invention, a steam drill, that would
replace the driving team. Afraid of losing their jobs to this machine, John Henry and
his shaker challenged the inventor of the machine to a contest to see who would do
the job better and faster. John Henry won, but died in the process.
When I first heard this song as a child, I was very troubled by the idea, new to
me then, that someone could win and seemingly “lose” at the same time. Victory
and defeat had very strict meanings to me then. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about
little people challenging great power, the true nature of victory, and especially the
amazing people in this world who have a wonderful disregard for the impossible.
It’s not difficult to imagine a hundred and one discussion topics and exercises that
this song could spin off.
When John Henry was just a little baby boy
Sitting on his Papa’s knee
He said, “The Big Bend Tunnel on the C & O line
“Gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
“Gonna be the death of me.”
Well, the captain said to John Henry,
“Gonna bring that old steam drill around
“I’m gonna bring that steam drill right out on the job
“Gonna whup that old steel on down …
“Gonna whup that old steel on down.…”
Well, John Henry said to the captain,
He said, “A man ain’t nothing but a man
“But before I would let that old steam drill beat me down
“I’d die with this hammer in my hand …” (2 times)
John Henry said to his partner,
He said, “Shaker, you know you better pray,
“’Cause I’m swinging 20 pounds from my hips on down
“If I miss it’ll be your burying day …” (2 times)
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