American Ballads and Folk Songs: page - 0299

Complete Text, Lyrics & Sheet Music

Share page

Visit Us On FB

	American Ballads and Folk Songs
	"Oh, where'd you git yo' learning Please tell it to me." "On de Gulf, Colorado, and de Santa Fe." Oh, my li'l John Henry, Godamighty know, Oh, my li'l John Henry, Godamighty know.
	SHORTY GEORGE Along by the Central State Prison near Sugarland, Texas, runs a narrow-gauge track, and down that track about sunset comes whistling a little gasoline motor car. It is on this train that the women who have come out for a Sunday with their men-folks leave the prison. "Case it's such a runty li'l train," the convicts have named it Shorty George, but they sing about it as if it were one of those favored men, like John Henry, who can get a woman by a crook of the finger. Iron Head, in prison for life and not subject to reprieve or pardon, [ 199]