John Henry
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Afinação: E A D G B ETecla: BbCapotraste:
1st traste
[Intro]
A C E7sus A
John Henry, Lord, John Henry
[Verse 1]
A
When John Henry was a little baby boy
E
Sittin' on his mammy's knee
A D7
He picked up a hammer and a piece of cold road steel
A D7
Said "Hammer gonna be the death of me, Mama,
A E A
Hammer gonna be the death of me."
[Verse 2]
A
Now John Henry had a little woman
E
And her name was Polly Anne
A D7
John Henry, he got sick and he had to go to bed
A D7
But Polly drove that steel like a man
A E A
Polly drove that steel like a man
[Verse 3]
A
Now the Captain, he said to John Henry one day,
E
"John, I think that mountain's caving in!"
A D7
But Johnny just grinned up at his captain and said,
A
"Haus, that ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin'
D7
just a little wind.
A E A
Nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind."
[Instrumental]
A E A D7 A D7 A E A
[Bridge]
A C E7sus A
John Henry, Lord, John Henry
[Verse 4]
A
Now John Henry drove steel in the mountains
E
And he drove steel all over this land
A D7
Said, "Before I let a steam hammer get the best of me,
A D7
Well I'll die with my hammer in my hand.
A E A
Child, I'll die with my hammer in my hand."
[Verse 5]
A
So big John Henry went down to the tunnel to drive
E
Steam hammer by his side.
A D7
Well he beat that big old drill to the end of the tunnel
A D7
And then he laid down his hammer and he died,
A E A
He laid down his hammer and he died.
[Verse 6]
A
Well they took John Henry to the graveyard
E
Stuck him six feet under the sand
A
Every time that big old freight train goes
D7
chug-a-luggin' down
A D7
They say, "Yonder lies a steel driving man.
A E A
Yonder lies a steel driving man."
[Outro]
A C E7sus A
John Henry, Lord, John Henry
A D A
A G A
How to play John Henry
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is E. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.