Lesson 2: Exploring “John Henry”

Aim: How can we understand how music tells a story through the old-time song “John Henry?”
Summary: Students learn and sing expressively to “John Henry” while understanding how music can be used to tell a story.
Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, pencils
Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities)
Standards: GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10
SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.5, MGK-2.6
Vocabulary: ballad, folk tale, lyrics

Listen to “John Henry”

  • Listen to Kaia sing the old-time song “John Henry,”  cdicon_22px Track 18

    “John Henry” is a type of song called a ballad. A ballad is a story that is set to music.
  • “John Henry” is based on a folk tale. A folk tale is a story that is passed down through oral tradition. Just like folk music, it is passed from generation to generation.
  • Explain that John Henry was an African-American folk hero who was famous for hammering steel to construct a railroad tunnel. He was placed in a contest against a steam-powered hammer and he won!
  • Ask students to pretend to hammer their railroad steel spikes. Ask them to find the steady beat by playing their “hammers” while they listen.

 

John Henry

When John Henry was a little baby, he was sitting on his papa’s knee.
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel;
Saying, “Hammer’s gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord.
Hammer’s gonna be the death of me.
Hammer’s gonna be the death of me.”

The captain said to John Henry
“I’m gonna bring that steam drill around.
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.
Gonna whip that steel on down, down, down.
Whip that steel on down.
Whip that steel on down.”

John Henry told his captain,
“A man ain’t nothin’ but a man,
But before I let your steam drill beat me down,
I’d die with a hammer in my hand, hand, hand.
I’d die with a hammer in my hand.
I would die with a hammer in my hand.”

Now the man that invented the steam drill
He thought he was mighty fine,
But John Henry made fifteen feet;
The steam drill only made nine.
That steam drill only made nine.

John Henry hammered in the mountain
And his hammer was striking fire.
He worked so hard, he broke his poor heart.
And he laid down his hammer and he died.
He laid down his hammer and he died.

John Henry had a little woman.
Her name was Polly Ann.
When John Henry got sick and went to his bed.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man.
Polly Ann drove steel like a man.

Well, every Monday morning
When the bluebirds start to sing.
You can hear John Henry for a mile or more.
You can hear John Henry’s hammer ring.
You can hear John Henry’s hammer ring.
You can hear John Henry’s hammer ring.

 

Explore the Lyrics in “John Henry”

  • Lyrics are the words to a song.
  • How do the lyrics help to tell John Henry’s story?
  • Using the graphic organizer on SG13, use words and pictures to summarize the folk tale of John Henry.

 

Literacy Extension: Read about John Henry

John Henry: An American Legend by Ezra Jack Keats tells the story of John Henry and the steam drill, as well as other tales of the folk hero.

 

singingSing More Old-Time Songs!

Many traditional children’s songs come from the old-time tradition, including “Froggy Went A-Courtin’,” “She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” “The Bear Went Over the Mountain,” “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” and “Oh Susanna.” Like Kaia’s songs in this unit, many of the songs come from West Virginia and have similar themes, including mountains, railroads, and working. “Oh Susanna” even features a banjo in its chorus!

 

Musical Word Wall

Add ballad, folk tale, and lyrics to the Musical Word Wall.

 

PDF Downloads

SG13 ↓ Download File

 

Musical Explorers Audio Tracks