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Steel Drivin' Man

from Long Train A​-​Rollin' by Marc Nerenberg

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The book "Steel Drivin' Man" by historian Scott Reynolds Nelson, that I read some years ago, purports to tell the true story of the real John Henry based on Nelson's research and discoveries. Of course, as with all things folkloric, these findings are disputed by other historians and folklorists, who have their own theories about the origins of the song. But whether Nelson's "J. Henry" is the actual John Henry of the song or not, his book tells a very compelling story of a real person based on well-researched true historical facts. Over the intervening years since I read that book, I have gradually created a new interpretation of the John Henry song that stitches together parts of the original song with stanzas I've written based on Nelson's book, along with a stanza from the related song "Spike Driver Blues" to serve as an intermittent refrain or bridge. This was recorded on 7 May 2021, and, played clawhammer style, on a banjo tuned gCGCE, and a Low F harmonica, played cross-keyed in C.

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from Long Train A​-​Rollin', released August 2, 2021

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Marc Nerenberg Montreal, Québec

Marc Nerenberg is a veteran Montreal folksinger who plays old time banjo styles and blues harmonica. He has a narrative- centric repertoire, recounting stories in song and wrapping stories around songs. You may “be drawn in by a combination of Marc’s mastery of traditional banjo styles, his idiosyncratic singing, and [his] richly detailed ballads.” (Mike Regenstreif – Folk Roots/Folk Branches 2019) ... more

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