Nine-Pound Hammer

Words & Music:

Traditional American

 

                G                      C

This nine-pound hammer is a little too heavy

       G     D             G

For my size, buddy, for my size.

 

CHORUS:

                                        C

Well, roll on, buddy, don't you roll so slow.

          G    D                     G

How can I roll when the wheels won't go?

 

I went up into the mountain just to see my honey,

And I ain’t coming back, Lord I ain’t coming back.

CHORUS:

 

It’s a long way to Harlen, and a long way to Hazard,

Just to get a little brew, just to get a little brew.

CHORUS:

 

Oh, the eight-pound hammer in this tunnel;

Let it ring like mine, let it ring like mine.

CHORUS:

 

There ain't one hammer down in this tunnel.

That can ring like mine, that can ring like mine.

Rings like silver, and it shines like gold.

Rings like silver, and it shines like gold.

CHORUS:

 

The nine-pound hammer, that killed John Henry,

Ain't gonna kill me, ain't gonna kill me.

CHORUS:

 

Buddy, when I'm long gone, won't you make my tombstone

Out of number nine coal, out of number nine coal?

CHORUS:

 

I'm going on the mountain, just to see my baby.

And I ain't coming back; no, I ain't coming back.

CHORUS:

 

Now, somebody stole, my nine-pound hammer,

They took it and gone; they took it and gone.

CHORUS: