voice ; Collected by Parler and O'Bryant Nr. Otis Bird Marshall, Ark. July 26, 1958 Reel 358, Item 1 John Henry (This is really "John Hardy.") John Henry was a jeperdy little man, He carried two guns every day, He shot him a man on the West Virginia line, And you ought to seen Johnnie gettin' away, And you ought to seen Johnnie gettin' away. He want to the east and he went to the west, And he went this wide world around, And he went to the river and he were baptised, But now he's on his hanging ground, But now he's on his hanging ground. John Henry he had a loving little gal, The dress that she wore was blue, She come a-skippin' to the old jail hall, Says, "Daddy, have I been true? Says, "Daddy, have I been true?" John Henry he had another little gal, The dress that she wore was red, She come a-skippin' to the old jail hall, Says, "Daddy, Id rather be dead." Says, "Daddy, I'd rather be dead." John Henry he had a lovin' little wife, She follered him to his scaffold high, And the very last words that we heard poor johnnie say, "I'll meet you in that sweet by-and-by. I'll meet you in that sweet by-and-by. ; Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation.