John Henry was a little baby Sitting on his papa's knee Well he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel Says this hammer's going to be the death of me Hammer's going to be the death of me Hammer's going to be the death of me Hammer's going to be the death of me
John Henry said to his captain now a man ain't nothing but a man Before I let your steel drill bring me down I will die with that hammer in my ... I will die with that hammer in my hand I will die with that hammer in my hand I'll die with that hammer in my hand
John Henry said to his shaker Now shaker why don't you sing I'm shaking twelve pounds from my hip onnnn down Now don't you hear that cold steel ring Don't you hear that cold steel ring Don't you hear that cold steel ring Don't you hear that cold steel ring
John Henry hammered in the mountain and the mountain it was so high And the last word that I heard that poor man cry He says give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die
John Henry went down that railroad track with a twelve pound hammer by his side Yes he went down the track but he never came back Because he laid down his hammer and he He laid down his hammer and he He laid down his hammer and he died He laid down his hammer and he died
John Henry had a little woman And the dress she wore was red And that last words that I heard that poor girl said She says I'm going where John Henry fell dead I'm going where John Henry fell dead I'm going where John Henry fell dead I'm going where John Henry fell dead