John Henry

John Henry, when he was a baby

Settin' on his mammy's knee

Picked up an hammer in his little right hand

Said, "Hammer be the death of me, me, meHammer be the death of me"

Some say he's born in

TexasSome say he's born up in

MaineI just say he was a

Louisiana man

Leader of a steel-driving chain gang

Leader on a steel-driving gang

Well, the

Captain said to

John Henry"I'm gonna bring my steam drill aroundGonna bring my steam drill out on the jobGonna whup that steel on down, down, downWhup that steel on down"

John Henry said to the

Captain(What he say?)"You can bring your steam drill aroundYou can bring your steam drill out on the jobI'll beat your steam drill down, down, downBeat your steam drill down"

John Henry said to his

Shaker"Shaker, you had better prayIf you miss your six feet of steelI'll be your buryin' day, day, dayI'll be your buryin' day"

Now, the Shaker said to

John Henry(Yes sir)"Man ain't nothing but a man(No he ain't)But before I'd let that steam drill beat me down(I believe him)I'd die with an hammer in my hand, hand, hand(I believe him)I'd die with an hammer in my hand"

John Henry had a little woman

Her name was

Polly Anne

John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed

While Polly handled steel like a man, man, man

Polly handled steel like a man

They took

John Henry to the graveyard

Laid him down in the sand

Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by

Hollered, there lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man

There lies a steel-drivin' man

There lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man

There lies a steel-drivin' man