John Henry when he was a baby,
Sitting on his mothers knee,
Saw a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said 'hammer'll be the d**h of me,
Lord, hammer'll be the d**h of me.'
Well now some say he was born down in Texas
Some say he was born in Maine,
Well I don't give a damn where that
Poor boy was born,
Leader of a steel driving chain gang,
Leader of a steel driving gang.
Now the captain said to John Henry
'I'm gonna bring that steel drill round
Gonna bring that steel drill out of on the job.
Whop all that steel on down
Lord, whop all that steel on down.'
John Henry said to his shaker,
'Now shaker, why don't you sing,
'Cause I'm bringing twelve pounds
From my hips on down,
Listen to that cold steel ring
Lord listen to that cold steel ring.'
John Henry said to his captain,
'A man ain't nothing but a man,
Gonna beat that steam drill
Out on the job
Or I'll die with my hammer in my hand
Lord die with my hammer in my hand.'
John Henry hammered on the mountain
Till his hammer was striking fire.
He drove so hard, he broke his poor heart,
Laid down his hammer and he died
Lord, laid down his hammer and he died.