resonant | The Ballad of John Henry's CEO

The Ballad of John Henry's CEO

Now also on AO3

by Resonant

When the owner was a little baby,
Sittin' on his nanny's knee,
He looked out the window at the old steel yard,
Said, All this belongs to me, lord, lord,
All this belongs to me.

Well, the owner said to the captain,
These new steam drills work a treat.
They work all day, they work all night,
They don't need to rest or eat, lord, lord,
Don't need to rest or eat.

The captain said to the owner,
If you no longer need these men,
They don't work all day and collect their pay,
Who will ride your railroads then, lord, lord,
Who will ride your railroads then?

The owner said to the captain,
Captain, don't you curse and frown.
You can't fight fate, gotta automate,
Keep the cost of production down, lord, lord,
The cost of production down.

When the captain told him 'bout John Henry,
The owner he laughed with glee.
Said, I pay John Henry for his strong right arm
But I get his pride for free, lord, lord,
I get his pride for free.

The captain said to the owner,
Which one will win the day?
The owner said, That's nothing to me.
I get my tunnel either way, lord, lord.
I get my tunnel either way.

John Henry died in the evening.
The captain began to weep.
The owner he ate a nice beefsteak
And went and had a good night's sleep, lord, lord,
Went and had a good night's sleep.