Henry got a letter, said his mother was dead
Put his children on a pa**enger train
He gonna ride the blind, lordy
He gonna ride the blind
Henry looked down, railroad track, spied the steel-drivin' coming down
"'Fore I let that steel-drive beat me down,
Die with the hammer in my hand
Lord, I'll die with the hammer in my hand."
Henry went on the mountain top, give his horn a blow
Last words the captain said,
"John Henry was a natch'l man.
John Henry was a natural man."
Henry had a woman, dress she wore was red
Run on down that railroad track
Goin' where John Henry fell dead
"Yes, I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead."
Henry had a baby boy, hold him in his palm of his hand
Last words that poor boy said,
"I'm gonna learn to be a steel-drivin' man.
Yes I'll learn to be a steel-drivin' man."