Railroad Work Song - Jesse Fuller

Working on the railroad, a dollar a day.
Working on the railroad, a dollar a day.
Working on the railroad, a dollar a day.
Took my money, baby, and you thrown it away.
Take this hammer.
Take it to the captain.
Take this hammer.
Take it to the captain.
Take this hammer.
Take it to the captain.
Tell him I’m gone, buddy, tell him I’m gone.
If he asks you, was I running.
If he asks you, was I running.
If he asks you, buddy, was I running.
Tell him, “no”, I was flyin’
This old hammer, ring like silver.
This old hammer, ring like silver.
This old hammer, ring like silver.
Shine like gold, buddy, shine like gold.
This old hammer killed John Henry
This old hammer killed John Henry
This old hammer, buddy, killed John Henry
Won’t kill me, ol’ buddy, won’t kill me.
Wake up in the mornin’ when the ding dong rings
Wake up in the mornin’ when the ding dong rings
Wake up in the mornin’ buddy, when the ding dong rings
???, same ol thing
Wake up buddy, uncover your ears
Wake up buddy, uncover your ears
Wake up buddy, uncover your ears
Captain gonna work you til you’re almost dead
Climb the mountain, gonna see my baby
Goin’ up on the mountain, gonna see my baby
Goin’ up on the mountain, gonna see my baby
Ain’t comin’ back, buddy, ain’t comin’ back
Captain got a bulldog, he weighs 500
Captain got a bulldog, he weighs 500
Captain got a bulldog, and he weighs 500
In his backyard, buddy, in his back yard
When you hear, Cuckoo holler
When you hear, Cuckoo holler
When you hear, Cuckoo holler
Sign of rain, buddy, sign of rain