The Day John Henry Died Lyrics

Lyric discussion by wvmtneer 

Cover art for The Day John Henry Died lyrics by Drive-By Truckers

Well you're right about the meaning, but while I agree very strongly that we should not be machines, I don't agree that a machine to help us with our labor is a bad thing. You have anything against the wheel? You like your computer? You know how it was made?

There's nothing wrong with efficiency. Wasting money is not something to be excited about. I would be happier if this song didn't criticize the machine that took John Henry's job and helped us build the railroads, but the thousands of machines that said nothing about John Henry's family being kidnapped from their home and sold as property.