Ken (KD) Bantz
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Ballad of John Henry



Credits
Lyric Credits: Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved, Ken Bantz
Music Credits: Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved, Ken Bantz
Producer Credits: Jon Gillespie with Ken Bantz
Performance Credits: Ken Bantz, vocal/guitars; Todd Harrold drums; Tim Beeler bass; Marty Price dobro
Description
Short Song Description:
Uptempo blues/rock -dobro and build up to steaming electric guitar solo enhance the drama of this tune. The story about a man falsely accused and convicted of a crime in a time when technology had yet to invent finger printing and DNA testing-when as in t
Story Behind the Song:
I wrote this song as a result of an article I had read about DNA testing of convicted prisoners. They found the tests revealed that a number of prisoners did not commit they crimes they were incarcerated for. In many cases these falsely accused had spent
Metadata
Song Length 5:12
Primary Genre Rock-Americana
Tempo / Feel Folk-Rock
Tempo / Feel Medium (111 - 130)
Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Subject Matter 1 Justice
Subject Matter 2 Crime, Theft
Mood 1 Outraged
Mood 2 Disturbed
Similar Artist 1 Bob Dylan
Similar Artist 2 Neil Young
Language English
Lyrics
BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY
All Music and Lyrics written by Ken Bantz
Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved, Ken Bantz
Ph: (260)703-0492; E-mail: kbantz@hotmail.com

John Henry was a real fine man
Most of his life he was a hired hand
He was good hearted but a little bit slow
wore an old straw hat that everyone knowed

Evil boss man went walking into town
With ol John Henry's hat upon his brow
Night was moonless, dark and cold
Night was overshadowed by the boss man's soul

CHORUS
John Henry was a real fine man
Kind hearted loved to work the land
Only thing he ever did that hurt him so
Wore an old straw hat that everyone knowed

Next morning found a good woman dead
Taken advantage of in her bed
And outside underneath her window
Was an old starw hat that everyone knowed

Ol John Henry didn't stand much of a chance
At the end of a rope he did dance
Evil boss man he grey gray and old
Would laugh to himself about the hat he stole

REPEAT CHORUS

Can anybody please tell me why
A good man's taken before his time
By a man whose soul is dark as night

Got to be justice on the other side
Please give us justice on the other side
Pray for justice on the ohter side

Instrumental break

John Henry was a real fine man

END