Laura Veirs
"John Henry Lives"


Hear the whistle blow far off
In the still night without stars
See the tracks laid flat with a hammer's might
They're the spike driver's scars
They're the spike driver's scars

By the railroad ties there a hammer lies it's all painted in red
It's all painted in red, it's all painted in red

By the railroad ties there a hammer lies it's all painted in red
It's all painted in red, it's all painted in red

The west springs up from the spike driver's blues
And the captain's new shiny shoes take to him this hat
And hammer and tell him I'm gone I'm gone I'm gone I'm gone I'm gone

By the railroad ties there a hammer lies it's all painted in red
It's all painted in red, it's all painted in red

By the railroad ties there a hammer lies it's all painted in red
It's all painted in red, it's all painted in red

It's all painted in red, it's all painted in red, it's all painted in red
It's all painted in red, it's all painted in red, it's all painted in red