Nine Pound Hammer (Version 1, key of E, with chord-walk notes)
Public domain - full karaoke IMMHA-L197
Credit: Traditional · year not shown
Origin: Version 1 of 2 in John's binder: typed sheet, key of E, with E/Em and A9 chord diagrams and notes on chord-walking up the neck.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Pound_Hammer
Lyrics sheet: courtesy of Country Roads Folk Music Camp, Mount Madonna County Park, California (about the camp)
Original scan: from John's songbook (scan to be posted on @IMMHACAL)
Chords as printed on the original song sheet. Key of E (typed sheet, as written). The sheet adds: walk up the neck in the intro and breaks from E through B7, C7, C#7, A, E7, F7, F#7, ending C#7, F#, B7, E.
E E7 A7 E B7 Well this Nine Pound Hammer, a little too heavy for my size, Buddy, for my size. E7 A7 E B7 E Goin' on the mountain, just a see my baby; never comin' back, ain't comin' back. [Chorus] E7 A7 E Now, you roll on, Buddy, haul a load a coal. How can I roll B7 E when the wheels won't go? [Break] E7 A7 E Well, there ain't no hammer south o' Georgia, ring like mine, B7 E E7 A7 Buddy, ring like mine. This ol' hammer ring like silver, E B7 E shine like gold, shine like gold. [Chorus] E7 A7 Now, you roll on, Buddy, don't you roll so slow. How can I E B7 E roll when the wheels won't go? [Break] E7 A7 E An' this ol' hammer, Buddy, killed John Henry; can't kill me, B7 E can't kill me. [Chorus and ending]