Merle Travis (Charlie Bowman?)
This Nine Pound Hammer
Just a little too heavy
For my size, for my size
I'm a goin' on the mountain
Gonna see my baby
But I ain't comin' back
Well I ain't comin' back
Roll on buddy
Don't ya roll so slow
Well how can I roll
When the wheels won't go
Roll on buddy
Pull your load of coal
Tell me how can I pull
When the wheels won't roll
Nine pound hammer
Killed John Henry
But it won't get me
Ain't a gonna get me
Well I'm just a poor boy
A long ways from home
Down in Tennessee
Down in Tennessee
Roll on buddy
Don't ya roll so slow
Tell me how can I roll
When the wheels won't go
Roll on buddy
Pull your load of coal
How can I pull
When the wheels won't roll
It's a long way to Harlan
It's a long way to Hazard
Just to get a little brew
Just to get a little brew
When I'm long gone
Just make my tombstone
Outta number nine coal
Ol' number nine coal
Roll on buddy
Don't ya roll so slow
Tell me how can I roll
When the wheels won't go
Roll on buddy
Pull your load of coal
Now how can I pull
When the wheels won't roll
Roll on buddy
Don't ya roll so slow
Tell me how can I roll
When the wheels won't go
Roll on buddy
Pull your load of coal
Tell me how can I pull
When the wheels won't roll