John Henry
by Anonymous
When John Henry was a little tiny baby
Sitting on his mama’s knee,
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Saying, “Hammer’s going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
Hammer’s going to be the death of me.”John Henry was a man just six feet high,
Nearly two feet and a half across his breast.
He’d hammer with a nine pound hammer all day
And never get tired and want to rest, Lord, Lord,
And never get tired and want to rest.John Henry went up on the mountain
And he looked one eye straight up its side.
The mountain was so tall and John Henry was so small,
He laid down his hammer and he cried, “Lord, Lord,”
He laid down his hammer and he cried.John Henry said to his captain,
“Captain, you go to town,
Bring me back a twelve pound hammer, please,
And I’ll beat that steam drill down, Lord, Lord,
I’ll beat that steam drill down.”The captain said to John Henry,
“I believe this mountain’s sinking in.”
But John Henry said, “Captain, just you stand aside
It’s nothing but my hammer catching wind, Lord, Lord,
It’s nothing but my hammer catching wind.”John Henry said to his shaker,
“Shaker, boy, you better start to pray,
‘Cause if my twelve pound hammer miss that little piece of steel,
Tomorrow’ll be your burying day, Lord, Lord,
Tomorrow’ll be your burying day.”John Henry said to his captain,
“A man is nothing but a man,
But before I let your steam drill beat me down,
I’d die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord,
I’d die with a hammer in my hand.”The man that invented the steam drill,
He figured he was mighty high and fine,
But John Henry sunk the steel down fourteen feet
While the steam drill only made nine, Lord, Lord,
The steam drill only made nine.John Henry hammered on the right-hand side.
Steam drill kept driving on the left.
John Henry beat that steam drill down.
But he hammered his poor heart to death, Lord, Lord,
He hammered his poor heart to death.Well, they carried John Henry down the tunnel
And they laid his body in the sand.
Now every woman riding on a C&O train
Says, “There lies my steel-driving man, Lord, Lord,
There lies my steel-driving man.”
Summary of John Henry
- Popularity of “John Henry”: John Henry is a widely known lyrical ballad, particularly celebrated for its exploration of the timeless theme of Man versus Machine. Originating in the 19th century, it gained prominence as folklore among African-American railroad construction workers. The ballad tells the story of a man who dies after beating a steam drill. A statue honoring John Henry stands proudly outside the town of Talcott in Summers County, West Virginia.
- John Henry as a Representative of Hard Work: The ballad depicts the unwavering struggle of a man confronting technological advancement that threatened manual labor. John Henry, a powerfully built man who habitually wielded a nine pound hammer without tiring, embodies dedication and perseverance. He bravely accepts the challenge of competing against a steam drill in driving steel. Upon reaching the mountain, he realizes his existing hammer is insufficient and requests a twelve pound hammer from his captain. He dedicates himself fully to the task, beats the steam drill, but his tireless effort leads to his death. His fellow workers carry his body down the tunnel, and he is laid to rest in the sand. Women traveling on C&O trains remember him as a legendary “steel-driving” man.
- Major Themes in “John Henry”: Bravery, courage, and the inevitability of death are central themes. The ballad unfolds during a pivotal historical moment when John Henry undertakes an almost impossible task: hammering steel into rock to prepare for railroad construction. He ultimately succumbs to the strain, his heart giving out. He is presented as an industrious and determined man who worked tirelessly until his last breath, sacrificing his life for the progress of society.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “John Henry”
Literary devices are tools writers employ to express emotions, ideas, and themes, enhancing the impact of their writing. Let’s explore some of the literary devices used in this ballad:
- Anaphora: This is the repetition of a phrase or word at the beginning of successive verses. The repetition of “Hammer’s going to be the death of me” in the opening lines foreshadows John Henry’s fate and emphasizes the dangerous nature of his work.
Saying, “Hammer’s going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
Hammer’s going to be the death of me.” - Imagery: Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the five senses, creating vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. Examples include “He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel,” “John Henry hammered on the right-hand side,” and “And they laid his body in the sand.” These images help us visualize the scene and connect with the story.
- Hyperbole: This is exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. The line “It’s nothing but my hammer catching wind” is a hyperbole. It exaggerates the power of John Henry’s hammer to suggest it is so forceful it creates a wind current. The hammer is both exaggerated and personified through this device.
- Assonance: This is the repetition of vowel sounds within the same line. For example, the repetition of the /ee/ sound in “He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel” and the /o/ sound in “Saying, “Hammer’s going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord.” This creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain words.
- Consonance: This is the repetition of consonant sounds within the same line. For example, the repetition of the /d/ sound in “He laid down his hammer and he cried, “Lord, Lord” and the /t/ sound in “John Henry beat that steam drill down.” Consonance adds to the poem’s rhythmic quality.
- Alliteration: This is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. Examples include the /h/ sound in “John Henry hammered on the right-hand side” and the /l/ sound in “I’d die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord.” Alliteration adds a musical and memorable quality to the verses.
- Enjambment: This occurs when a thought or phrase continues from one line to the next without punctuation. It creates a sense of flow and momentum. For example:
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Saying, “Hammer’s going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
Hammer’s going to be the death of me.”
Analysis of Poetic Devices in “John Henry”
Poetic and literary devices often overlap, but some are particularly prominent in poetry. Here’s an analysis of the poetic devices used in this ballad:
- Ballad: A ballad is a narrative poem meant to be sung or recited, often telling a story of love, courage, or tragedy. “John Henry” is a classic example of a 19th-century ballad.
- Stanza: A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit within a poem. This ballad consists of ten five-line stanzas.
- Quintet: A quintet is a five-line stanza. Each stanza in “John Henry” is a quintet.
- Repetition: The repetition of the last line of each stanza creates a musical effect and reinforces the poem’s central themes.
But he hammered his poor heart to death, Lord, Lord,
He hammered his poor heart to death. - Refrain: A refrain is a line or phrase that is repeated throughout a poem. The repeated last line of each stanza functions as a refrain, emphasizing the tragic consequences of John Henry’s determination.
Tomorrow’ll be your burying day, Lord, Lord,
Tomorrow’ll be your burying day.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly powerful and useful for teaching children about the historical context of industrialization and the challenges faced by laborers during that era:
John Henry went up on the mountain
And he looked one eye straight up its side.
The mountain was so tall and John Henry was so small,
He laid down his hammer and he cried.