I've heard the story of John Henry before, yet I don't exactly recall when or where. I was younger and, honestly, I'm surprised I remember it at all. At the time it was just another ballad. (Actually, I think I just heard the story and never the actual song until now.) Now, after I reread it again, I see there is much more meaning to it.
I read the original, prision crew, and folk version of the song. All were, of course, similar in there general theme. However, in the folk version, the language was distinctly different- "folkish" I guess one would call it. It just sounds like some traditional song one would sing in the back woods, while working. And it probably was. Since the song describes the hard plight of a working man, the ballad may have been used as a sort of encouragement.
The prison crew version almost seems like it is about honor. John Henry must make his father proud by being a steel-driving man, just as he was. He must work hard to keep his wife and father happy. In the pursuit to bring this honor to his family, he works himself to death. For a prison crew, the idea of honor and respect for their family may have been a consuming thought for the men.
Overall however, "The Ballad of John Henry" provides commentary on both technology and race at the time of it's creation. Henry dies because he is fighting to save his job from the technology which threatens to take it away. Technology at this time was taking many jobs away from the working, especially the African-American workers. The ballad gives insight on how these workers felt at the time (like they had to work to prove themselves) and what it meant for them (working still eventually lead to death or, on a less morbid note, loss of jobs).
Posted by VanessaKolberg at November 9, 2005 01:49 PM | TrackBackVanessa--
I agree with you on the varying language. I question whether the technology was really taking away all the jobs of the African Americans. If I recall correctly, the railroad workers ended up being cheap immigrants like the Chinese and Irish. I wonder if this is a comment on technology, but also on perhaps the race/ethnicity that also took their jobs away.
http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/crbeha/ca/ca.htm
There's a website about the Chinese and their role on the railroad, if you need a refresher like me :)
I wrote something like this on my blog. The story was about technology and race. Technology was taking over the jobs of the people on the crew. Race was also a factor because the owner was so focused on money that he would have let go of all his black workers to save money. Although he may have done the same thing to other people even if they weren't black.
Posted by: Stacy at November 9, 2005 10:10 PMI blogged about something similar concerning the technology taking jobs. I think John Henry seems upset in the "Steel Driving Man" ballad because he fears the steam hammer will overtake his job. He is showing how hard he can work and can race against something from technology.
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 10, 2005 08:28 AM