I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Well, when John Henry died he lay lookin' at the sun
He said Lord, take me now my work is done, Lord, Lord
Lord take me now my work is done
Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy
They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord
Laid that hammer by his side
Yeah, and Joe Hill he worked any job he could find, boy
He'd rake your leaves and pick your vine, Lord, Lord
Rake your leaves and pick your vine
Yeah, and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name
But that bullet made a martyr of the same, Lord, Lord
Bullet made a martyr of the same
Yeah, and my grand daddy worked his whole damn life
Well, he never saved a nickel though he tried, Lord, Lord
Never saved a nickel though he tried
And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest
With that long road to Texas lyin' ahead, Lord Lord
Long road to Texas lyin' ahead
Yes sir, I ain't no great man and Lord I expect to see
A long life, a workin' and you're dead, Lord, Lord
A long life, a workin' and you're dead
They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry
They killed John Henry but they won't kill me
Lord, they killed John Henry, they killed John Henry
They killed John Henry but they won't kill me
He said Lord, take me now my work is done, Lord, Lord
Lord take me now my work is done
Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy
They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord
Laid that hammer by his side
Yeah, and Joe Hill he worked any job he could find, boy
He'd rake your leaves and pick your vine, Lord, Lord
Rake your leaves and pick your vine
Yeah, and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name
But that bullet made a martyr of the same, Lord, Lord
Bullet made a martyr of the same
Yeah, and my grand daddy worked his whole damn life
Well, he never saved a nickel though he tried, Lord, Lord
Never saved a nickel though he tried
And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest
With that long road to Texas lyin' ahead, Lord Lord
Long road to Texas lyin' ahead
Yes sir, I ain't no great man and Lord I expect to see
A long life, a workin' and you're dead, Lord, Lord
A long life, a workin' and you're dead
They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry
They killed John Henry but they won't kill me
Lord, they killed John Henry, they killed John Henry
They killed John Henry but they won't kill me
Lyrics submitted by melancholyjen, edited by slam
They Killed John Henry Lyrics as written by Justin Townes Earle
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
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Great version of a great song,
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A large art of this song seems to be that people keep "living" after their "deaths."
"Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord Laid that hammer by his side"
This suggests that he would be using his hammer well into the afterlife (slightly reminiscent of ancient Egyptian burial rights for Pharaohs), or that he will be swinging his hammer forever in songs.
"Yeah and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name But that bullet made a martyr of the slain, Lord, Lord Bullet made a martyr of the slain"
Joel Emmanuel Hagglund, aka Joseph Hillstrom, aka Joe Hill (namesake of Joseph Hillstrom "Joe Hill" King), was a labor activist falsely executed for murder (most ironic) in 1915, whose name lives on as a folk hero in songs, poems, and at least one movie.
"And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest With that long road to Texas lie ahead, Lord, Lord That long road to Texas lie ahead"
Even though his grandaddy died, he's not resting but still trying to get to Texas
"Yessir, I ain't no great man, and Lord I expect To see a long life workin' in your debt, Lord, Lord A long life workin' in your debt"
He's admitting he's not perfect and that when he's dead, God's going to keep him in Purgatory for quite a long time
All in all, a person never truly dies, they always keep doing something, even if only the collective memory of their lives. John Henry will always be in songs, swinging his hammer to defeat the machine; Joe Hill will always be a martyr, falsely accused of murdering a wealthy storeowner so that somebody else could get away with it; the narrator will always be trying to get to Texas for a better life where he can keep the rewards for his work; te narrator will always be in Purgatory making up for his actions in life
Again, how has almost NOBODY commented on ANY of Justin's songs? They're brilliant!
(Feeling, impression: Country/folk version of Dave Matthew's "Gravedigger")