Tune: John Henry; new lyrics by Darryl Cherney, 1990
When Lisa Henry was a little baby,
Sittin on her mama’s knee,
Well she picked up a hammer and a little monkeywrench,
She said I’m gonna work with Judi Bari, Lord, Lord
I’m gonna work with Judi Bari.
Lisa’s daddy was a forest ranger,
Working with de loggers in de woods,
Well they took him aside and they slapped him on the back,
And told him, Norm your daughter’s up to no good, Lord, Lord,
Norm your daughter’s up to no good.
Lisa’s mama ran for supervisor,
That election worked out just fine,
She whupped the pants off of Jack Azevedo,
I wonder if she’ll do it next time, Lord, Lord,
She almost didn’t do it next time.
Lisa Henry went to Samoa,
Blockaded an L-P truck,
She and 43 went to the Humboldt County pen,
Mama Liz said my career is sure fucked, Lord, Lord,
Mama Liz said my career is sure fucked.
Lisa spoke at the Fort Bragg rally,
She said Mama denounce that bomb,
Well the audience howled, but Mama Liz just growled
She said I’ll sit that fence till Kingdom come, Lord, Lord,
I’ll sit that fence till Kingdom come.
Lisa went to the SEAC conference,
She said Dave Foreman, you are a drag,
But before he could respond, Lisa she was up and gone,
A’ sucking up to Billy Bragg, Lord, Lord,
She was sucking up to Billy Bragg.
Now Lisa Henry was not a tree spiker,
Because Judi Bari was her pal,
But every time the loggers see Lisa walking by,
They say now there goes a steel-driving gal, Lord, Lord,
There goes a steel-driving gal.
When Lisa Henry was a little baby,
Sittin’ on her mama’s knee
She picked up a hammer and a little monkeywrench
She said I’m gonna work with Judi Bari, Lord, Lord,
Might even live with Judi Bari.