Gonna Die With My Hammer In My Hand

John Henry told his captain,

"Man ain't nothin' but a man

Before I'd be driven by this old steam drill, I'm gonna

Die with my hammer in my hands, Lord, Lord,

Gonna die with a hammer in my hands."

John Henry told his captain,

"Captain, how can it be?

The Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O road is

Gonna be the death (last) of me, Lord, Lord,

Gonna be the death of me."

John Henry had a little hammer

Handle was made of oak

Every time he hit that rail on the head

Hammer laid just down and broke, Lord, Lord

Hammer laid just down and broke

John Henry told his shaker,

"Shaker, you better pray

For if I miss this six-foot steel

Tommorow'll be your buryin' day, Lord, Lord

Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day."

John Henry had but one only child

Fit in the palm of your hand

The very last words John Henry said,

"Son, don't be a steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord,

Son, don't be a steel-drivin' man."

John Henry had a little woman

Her name was Sally Ann

John Henry got sick and he could not work

Sally drove the steel like a man, Lord, Lord,

Sally drove the steel like a man bye and bye"