*In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"Spike Driver Blues" — Mississippi John Hurt (1928)

The year 2009 has turned into something a year of review of the folk revival of the 1960s. In November I featured a posting of many of the episodes (via “YouTube”) of Pete Seeger’s classic folk television show from the 1960s, “Rainbow Quest”. I propose to do the same here to end out the year with as many of the selections from Harry Smith’s seminal “Anthology Of American Folk Music,” in one place, as I was able to find material for, either lyrics or "YouTube" performances (not necessarily by the original performer). This is down at the roots, for sure.


From Scott Ainsie's blog

Spike Driver Blues (John Hurt)
INSTRUMENTAL INTRO/VERSE

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 goin.

INSTRUMENTAL

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.