They Killed John Henry

Well, when John Henry died he lay lookin' at the sun

He said Lord, take me now my work is done, Lord, Lord


Lord take me now my work is done

Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy


They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord


Laid that hammer by his side

Yeah, and Joe Hill he worked any job he could find, boy

He'd rake your leaves and pick your vine, Lord, Lord


Rake your leaves and pick your vine


Yeah, and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name


But that bullet made a martyr of the same, Lord, Lord

Bullet made a martyr of the same

Yeah, and my grand daddy worked his whole damn life

Well, he never saved a nickel though he tried, Lord, Lord

Never saved a nickel though he tried


And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest

With that long road to Texas lyin' ahead, Lord Lord

Long road to Texas lyin' ahead

Yes sir, I ain't no great man and Lord I expect to see

A long life, a workin' and you're dead, Lord, Lord

A long life, a workin' and you're dead


They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry

They killed John Henry but they won't kill me

Lord, they killed John Henry, they killed John Henry


They killed John Henry but they won't kill me