The song "More About John Henry" by Tom T. Hall is about the legendary figure of John Henry, a black man known for his strength and skill as a railroad worker. The song recounts some of the lesser known aspects of John Henry's life, including his love for women and his encounter with the infamous outlaw Stacker Lee. The song describes John Henry as a six-foot-tall man with incredible strength who didn't always swing his hammer. He was known to have a way with women, and had his eye on Julie Anne despite also being involved with a woman named Poor Selma. When Stacker Lee shot and killed his own woman and took a shot at Poor Selma, John Henry intervened and killed Stacker Lee with his bare hands. After his encounter with Stacker Lee, John Henry pours his heart out to Julie Anne, singing a song written by Blind Leonard. Despite his love for her, he tells her he does not like her "lowdown ways." John Henry then seeks help from a conjuring woman, asking her to help prevent the misery he has faced as a result of his love life and violent encounter. Overall, the song paints a picture of John Henry as a complex figure, not just a worker with extraordinary strength, but also a man with desires and complications just like anyone else.
