John Henry is an American folk hero, first hero of African-American folklore . Not always depicted as an African American, he is said to have worked as a “steel-driving man”—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel.
According to legend, John Henry’s prowess as a steel-driver was measured in a race against a steam-powered rock drilling machine, a race that he won only to die in victory with hammer in hand as his heart gave out from stress. Various locations, including Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia, Lewis Tunnel in Virginia, and Coosa Mountain Tunnel in Alabama, have been suggested as the site of the contest.
The folktale celebrates one man’s victory against seemingly insurmountable odds. But it holds another, harsher truth: His determination and strength are also what killed him. The John Henry of contemporary social theory is a man striving to get ahead in an unequal society.
Folklorists have long thought John Henry to be mythical, but historian Scott Nelson has discovered that he was a real person—a nineteen-year-old from New Jersey who was convicted of theft in a Virginia court in 1866, sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary, and put to work building the C&O Railroad.
He symbolized the many African Americans whose sweat and hard work built and maintained the rails across West Virginia. He was a symbol for the black workers who gave their lives in these dangerous occupations.
The story of John Henry is told in a classic blues folk song, which exists in many versions, and has been the subject of numerous stories, plays, books, and novels
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1. When John Henry was a little baby boy, sitting on his mammy's knee. Well, he picked up a hammer and little piece of steel Said Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lordy, day hey Hammer's gonna be the death of me 2. Well, the captain said to John Henry. I'm gonna bring my steam drill around. I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on the job. It’s gonna whop that steel on down lordy dei. Gonna whop that steel on down. 3. John Henry told his captain. “That a man ain't nothing but a man.” But before I'd let your steam drill beat me down. I'll die with a hammer in my hand . Yes I will; I'll die with a hammer in my hand 4. Now, John Henry said to his shaker. “Shaker, why don't you sing?” Cause I'm swinging thirty pounds from my hips on down Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lordy, day hey. Just listen to that cold steel ring ( hold on – Modulation –) 5. Now the captain said to John Henry:“I believe that mountain's caving in.” John Henry said right back to the captain. That ain't nothing but my hammer sucking wind Yeah Yeah. That Ain't nothing but my hammer sucking wind. 6. Now, the man that invented the steam drill. Well, he thought he was mighty fine, but John Henry drove his steel fifteen feet The steam drill drove only nine. Yes it did. The steam drill drove only nine. 7. Now, John Henry was hammerin’ in the mountains There was lightning in his eyes. But, he drove so hard, that it broke his heart So, he laid down his hammer and he died. Yes he did. He laid down his hammer and he died 8. So every Monday morning, when the bluebirds start to sing You can hear John Henry about a mile or more Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lordy, day hey. Just listen to that cold steel ring.