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Spike Driver Blues (John Hurt)

from Terraplane by Scott Ainslie

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This is my absolute favorite version of any of the many songs about John Henry. Rather than praising him for killing himself for the man, as most songs by white folk singers do, Mississippi John Hurt sings, "This is the hammer that killed John Henry...lord, it won't kill me, won't kill me, it won't kill me..." Surviving was an important value. Blessings on Hurt's memory!

lyrics

Spike Driver Blues. (Mississippi John Hurt)

Take this hammer and carry it to the captain,
Tell him I’m gone. Tell him I’m gone. Oh, tell him I’m gone.
Take this hammer and carry it to the captain,
Oh, tell him I’m gone. Tell him I’m gone. I sure am gone.

It’s a long way from east Colorado, honey, to my home,
Honey to my home….
It’s a long way from east Colorado, honey, to my home.
…..That’s where I’m going.

John Henry was a steel drivin’ man, but he went down.
But he went down….he sure went down.

John Henry he left his hammer, laying side the road.
John Henry he left his hammer, all over in rain.
All over in rain. Laying side the road.

INSTRUMENTAL

This is the hammer that killed John Henry, Lord, it won’t kill me.
This is the hammer that killed John Henry, but it won’t kill me….sure won’t kill me.

credits

from Terraplane, track released September 22, 1997
Scott Ainslie, Guitar and voice

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Scott Ainslie Brattleboro, Vermont

A long history with older black blues and gospel players in the mid-South marks Ainslie's work deeply. He transcribed all of Robert Johnson's recorded songs for "Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads" (Hal Leonard, 1992) and has a teaching DVD on Johnson's music. A fine songwriter with a social conscience and a belief in the power of music to move and inspire, Ainslie's voice is a great force for good! ... more

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