Story Behind The Song
I wrote this song as a result of an article I had read about DNA testing of convicted prisoners. They found the tests revealed that a number of prisoners did not commit they crimes they were incarcerated for. In many cases these falsely accused had spent
Song Description
Uptempo blues/rock -dobro and build up to steaming electric guitar solo enhance the drama of this tune. The story about a man falsely accused and convicted of a crime in a time when technology had yet to invent finger printing and DNA testing-when as in t
| Song Length |
5:12 |
Genre |
Rock - Americana, Folk - Rock |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Outraged, Disturbed |
Subject |
Justice, Crime, Theft |
| Similar Artists |
Bob Dylan, Neil Young |
Language |
English |
Lyrics
BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY
All Music and Lyrics written by Ken Bantz
Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved, Ken Bantz
Ph: (260)703-0492; E-mail: kbantz@hotmail.com
John Henry was a real fine man
Most of his life he was a hired hand
He was good hearted but a little bit slow
wore an old straw hat that everyone knowed
Evil boss man went walking into town
With ol John Henry's hat upon his brow
Night was moonless, dark and cold
Night was overshadowed by the boss man's soul
CHORUS
John Henry was a real fine man
Kind hearted loved to work the land
Only thing he ever did that hurt him so
Wore an old straw hat that everyone knowed
Next morning found a good woman dead
Taken advantage of in her bed
And outside underneath her window
Was an old starw hat that everyone knowed
Ol John Henry didn't stand much of a chance
At the end of a rope he did dance
Evil boss man he grey gray and old
Would laugh to himself about the hat he stole
REPEAT CHORUS
Can anybody please tell me why
A good man's taken before his time
By a man whose soul is dark as night
Got to be justice on the other side
Please give us justice on the other side
Pray for justice on the ohter side
Instrumental break
John Henry was a real fine man
END