''John Henry'' was a 1940 original Broadway musical based on the 1931 novel '' John Henry'' by Roark Bradford. The

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

was written by Bradford with music composed by

Jacques Wolfe Jacques Leon Wolfe (April 29, 1896 – June 22, 1973) was a Romanian-born American songwriter. Wolfe was born into a Jewish familyH. F. Woods, Geoffrey T. Hellman, Harold Ross, and Clifford Orr, “Another Composer”, September 9, 1933, '' ...

. Paul Robeson starred in the title role with Ruby Elzy as Julie Anne. Other prominent members of the cast included

Joseph Attles Joseph Attles (April 7, 1903 – October 29, 1990) was an American character actor of the legitimate theater, vaudeville and motion pictures. He was born in James Island, South Carolina, United States on April 7, 1903. He died on October 29, 1 ...

, Josh White,

Musa Williams Musa may refer to: Places *Mūša, a river in Lithuania and Latvia * Musa, Azerbaijan, a village in Yardymli Rayon * Musa, Iran, a village in Ilam Province *Musa, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran *Musa, Kerman, Iran * Musa, Bukan, West Azerbaijan ...

, and Bayard Rustin. The show played at the

44th Street Theatre The 44th Street Theatre was a Broadway theatre located at 216 West 44th Street in New York City from 1912 to 1945. It opened and operated for three years as the Weber and Fields' Music Hall. Its rooftop theatre, the Nora Bayes Theatre, presente ...

in New York City from January 10, 1940 to January 15, 1940.

Songs

;Act I * "I'm Singing About a Man" - Blind Lemon * "How Come I'm Born Wid a Hook in My Hand" - John Henry * "All the People on the Levee" - John Henry and Chorus * "Ya Gotta Bend Down" - Blind Lemon and Chorus * "How Come I'm Born Wid a Hook in My Hand (Reprise)" - John Henry * "Coonjine" - Chorus * "Jaybird" - Old Aunt Dinah and John Henry * "Got a Head Like a Rock" - John Henry * "Whiffer's Song" - Blind Lemon * "Stingaree Song" - Poor Selma * "Bad, Bad Stacker Lee" - Man Named Sam * "Careless Love" - Julie Anne * "I've Trampled All Over" - Julie Anne and John Henry * "Caught Ole Blue" - Blind Lemon and Chorus * "Old John Henry/Po' Lil' Frenchie" - John Henry and Men * "Workin' on de Railroad" - John Henry and Men * "High Ballin'" - Chorus ;Act II * "Where Did You Get Dem High Heeled Shoes?" - Blind Lemon * "Let De Sun Sink Down" - Carrie and Chorus * "Ship of Zion" - Chorus * "No Bottom" - Chorus * "Lullaby" - Julie Anne * "Take Me a Drink of Whiskey" - Man Named Sam and Ruby * "Sundown in My Soul" - John Henry * "I'm Gonna Git Down on My Knees" - Hell Buster and Chorus * "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" - Hell Buster and Chorus * "I'm Born in the Country" - John Henry * "Now You Talks Mighty Big in the Country" - Man Named Sam and Chorus * "So Stand Back, All You Bullies" - John Henry * "Ship of Zion (Reprise)" - Chorus * " I Don't Care Where They Buried My Body" - Chorus * "He Went to the East" - Chorus

External links

* 1940 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals based on novels {{Musical-theat-stub