Polly Ann's Hammer - Our Native Daughters, Amythyst Kiah, Rhiannon Giddens

John Henry had a woman

Polly Ann, Polly Ann

John Henry had a woman

Polly Ann, Polly Ann

When John was sick Polly drove steel

Like a man, like a man

When John was sick, Polly drove steel

Like a man, Lord, like a man

«Polly can you lift that hammer?»

«Yes I can, Yes I can

«I can swing it, I can strike it

«Harder than any man can»

When Polly had a small baby

On her knee, on her knee

Grabbed a hammer in her left hand

«Ain't no one as strong as me»

This little hammer killed John Henry

Won’t kill me, won’t kill me

This little hammer killed your daddy

Throw it down and we’ll be free