Lyrics:

John Henry was a little bitty boy
Sittin' on his mammy's knee
He looked at the hammer a'sittin' by the wall
Said that hammer be the death of me Lord Lord
That hammer be the death of me

John Henery said to his captain
That a man was a natural man
Well before he would let that steam drill running down
He'd die with the hammer in his hand Lord Lord
He'd die with the hammer in his hand

John Henry he went up on the mountain
Well the mountain it was so high
And the last words I heard that poor boy say
Give me drink of water before I die Lord Lord
Give me a drink of water before I die

John Henry he had a little woman
Well the dress she wore was blue
Well the last words that old gal say
John Henry I've been true to you Lord Lord
John Henry I've been true to you

John Henry he had another woman
Well the dress she wore was red
Well the last words that old gal say
I'mma going where my man fell dead Lord Lord
I'mma going where my man fell dead

Well they took John Henry to the railroad track
They buried him under the sand
When the men passed by on the freight train that day
Said there lies a steel driving man Lord Lord
There lies a steel driving man