Steel Drivin' Man

John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend

By: Scott Reynolds Nelson

Narrated by: Panama Jackson

The ballad "John Henry" is the most recorded folk song in American history and John Henry—the mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drill—is a towering figure in our culture.

In Steel Drivin' Man, Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts the true story of the man behind the iconic American hero, telling the poignant tale of a young Virginia convict who died working on one of the most dangerous enterprises of the time: the first rail route through the Appalachian Mountains. Using census data, penitentiary reports, and railroad company reports, Nelson reveals how John Henry, victimized by Virginia's notorious Black Codes, was shipped to the infamous Richmond Penitentiary to become prisoner number 497, and was forced to labor on the mile-long Lewis Tunnel for the C&O railroad. Equally important, Nelson masterfully captures the life of the ballad of John Henry, tracing the song's evolution from the first printed score by blues legend W. C. Handy, to Carl Sandburg's use of the ballad to become the first "folk singer", to the upbeat version by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Steel Drivin' Man offers a marvelous portrait of a beloved folk song—and a true American legend.

©2006 Scott Reynolds Nelson (P)2023 Marginal MediaWorks, Inc

Outstanding storytelling

Beautifully Blended reconstruction era history, music, and the authors personal journey. I’ll listen to this over and over again

Narrator has a good voice.

It’s a fascinating story. Had to read it for school, but it’s cool how the story of John Henry was adapted for so many different situations.

Steele Driving Man History

I just finished chapter 3 and I am enjoying the history lesson very much. So many early American details and nuances are shared in this reading. The briefly injected "songs" are a fun addition. Tempted to get the map out and follow along too!
Great job.