ON THE TRAIL OF NEGRO FOLK-SONGS

A Collection Of Negro Traditional & Folk Songs with Sheet Music Lyrics & Commentaries - online book

	aio	NEGRO FOLK-SONGS
	Edwin Swain says that the Negroes in Florida years ago sang a hammer work-song which gives at least a mountain setting to the fatality, though it does little to clear up the mystery otherwise.
	WORK-SONG
	On de mountain — over yonder — Killed mah pardner — killed him dead		killed him dead. —
	Wid mah hammer — killed mah pardner — Over yonder — killed him dead — killed him dead. — Evelyn Cary Williams, of Lynchburg, sends a version taken down from the singing of Charles Calloway, of Bedford County, Virginia, a Negro worker on the road. Nine-pound Hammer Nine-pound hammer — Kill John Henry — But't won't kill me, babe, — 'Twon'tkillme! If I live — To see December — I'm goin' home, love, — I'm goin' home. I'm goin' back — To the red-clay country — That's my home, babe, — That's my home. Joseph Turner, of Hollins, Virginia, has a variant a little more mixed: WORK-SONG Nine-pound hammer, nine-pound hammer, nine-pound hammer, Can't kill me, can't kill me, can't kill me; Nine-pound hammer can't kill me!