Lyrics:

John Henry, when he was a little baby
He sat on his Papa's knee
And the first piece of steel that he ever seed
He said, 'Gonna be the death of me
Yes, this is gonna be the death of me
Of me, of me
This is gonna be the death of me'

John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Sarah Ann
When John Henry was on his dyin' bed
Lord, she drive steel just like a man
She drive steel just like a man
Like a man, like a man
She drive steel just like a man

John Henry said he was born in Texas
Some said he was born in Maine
John Henry was born down in North Carolina
He's the leader of a steel-drivin' gang, Lord, Lord
He's the leader of a steel-drivin' gang
(Guitar starts line), of a gang
He's the leader of a steel-drivin' gang

John Henry said to his captain
'When you go to town
Bring me back a nine-pound hammer
I'm goin' to beat that steam drill
I'm gonna beat that steam drill down
Mmmm down, oh down
I'm gonna beat that steam drill down'
John Henry went up on the mountain
Hammered that great nine-pound
He drove steel three days and nights
Lord, the big rock come a-tumblin'
Oh, that big rock come a-tumblin' down
Tumblin' down, tumblin' down
Lord, the big rock come a-tumblin' down

John Henry said to his shaker
'What seem to be the trouble with you?'
That Big Bend Tunnel on the CVQ
Lord, it was gonna be the death of
Lord, it's gonna be the death of him
Of ---, of you
Lord, it's gonna be the death of him

'Where'd you get that pretty little red hat
Shoes and stockings so fine?'
'Got this hat from a railroad man
Got these stockings from a driver in the mine
In the mine, in the mine
Got these stockings from a driver in the mine'

'Now, who gonna shoe your little feet?
Who gonna glove your hand?
Who gonna kiss your rosy cheeks?
Lord, who's gonna be your man?
Says now, who's gonna be your man?'

'Papa gonna shoe my little feet
Papa's gonna glove my hand
Papa gonna kiss my rosy cheeks
Lord, and Papa's gonna be my man
Oh, Papa's gonna be my man
Oh, Papa's gonna be my man
Oh, Papa's gonna be my'

Now, when John Henry died
Buried him in the sand
Three of his womens come a-passin' by, singin'
'This sure been a steel-drivin' man
Sure been a steel-drivin' man'