John Henry, Lord
John Henry
John Henry was a little old bitty boy
Sitting on his mama's knee
Picked up a hammer
And a piece of cold old steel
Said the hammer gonna be the death of me, momma
Hammer gonna be the death of me
Now John Henry had a little woman
And her name was Polly Ann
John Henry he got sick
And he had to go to bed
But Polly drove that steel like a man
Polly drove that steel like a man
Now the captain he said to John Henry one day
John I think that mountain's caving in
But John he just grinned up at the captain
He said Hoss that ain't nothing but my hammer
Sucking just a little wind
Nothing but my hammer sucking wind
John Henry, Lord
John Henry
Now John Henry drove steel in the mountains
And he drove steel all over this land
Said before I let a steamhammer get the best of me
Well I'll die with my hammer in my hand
Child I'll die with my hammer in my hand
So big John Henry went down to the tunnel to drive
The steamhammer by his side
Well, he beat that big old drill
To the end of the tunnel
Then he laid down his hammer and he died
Lord, Lord
Laid down his hammer and he died
Well, they took John Henry to the graveyard
Stuck him six feet under the sand
Every time that big old freight train
Goes chugga lugging round
They say yonder lies a steel driving man
Yonder lies a steel driving man
John Henry, Lord
John Henry