Unknown - John Henry The Accountant Lyrics

JOHN HENRY THE ACCOUNTANT
(Paul Kaplan)

John Henry was an accountant
He worked with a pencil in his hand
If you had something that you needed added up
John Henry, the accountant, was your man, Lord, Lord
John Henry, the accountant, was your man,

When Henry was a little baby
Sitting on his daddy's knee
He picked up a crayon and a little piece of paper
And said one and two is three, Lord, Lord
Said, One and two is three

Well the man who bought the first calculator
Thought he was mighty fine
He walked up to Henry with a sneer on his lips
Saying, Your job is going to be mine, Lord, Lord
Your job is going to be mine

Well, Henry stood up, drew his weapon
Said, A man ain't nothing but a man
We'll have ourselves a race and I'll put you in your place
Or die with my pencil in my hand, Lord, Lord
Or die with my pencil in my hand

So each man with a fifty pound ledger
John Henry went to work with all his might
His hand was getting cramped and his shirt was getting damp
But he swore he would not give up the fight Lord, Lord
He swore he would not give up the fight

After three long hours in battle
The man with the machine moved out ahead
He had Henry beat until upon the final sheet
Suddenly his batteries went dead Lord, Lord
Suddenly his batteries went dead

So Henry beat the calculator
His power could never be denied
But the terrible strain was too much for his brain
So he laid down his glasses and he died Lord, Lord
He laid down his glasses and he died

Well they buried Henry in the graveyard
With his trusty pencil and his pad
When the checks didn't clear, they always shed a tear
For the last human being that could add Lord, Lord
The last human being that could add