John Henry

Lyrics

[Verse 1] When John Henry was just a little bitty boy No bigger than the palm of your hand His mammy looked down at John Henry and say: "My Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord My Johnny gonna be a steel-drivin' man" [Verse 2] John Henry, he said to his captain He said, "Captain, why don't you learn to swing? I'm drivin' forty-nine pounds from my hip on down Love to hear that cold steel ring, Lord, Lord I love to hear that cold steel ring" [Verse 3] John Henry had a pretty little woman And her name was Polly Ann John Henry, he took sick and he had to go to bed Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord That Polly drove the steel like a man [Verse 4] John Henry went up on that mountain Had that steam hammer by his side Well, he beat that drill 'til the end of the line Then he laid down his hammer and he cried, Lord, Lord He laid down his hammer and he cried [Verse 5] John Henry drove steel on that mountain 'til that hammer caught on fire Well, the very last words I hear ol' John Henry say: "Cool glass of water, I'm gonna die, Lord, Lord A cool glass of water, I'm gonna die" [Verse 6] Well, they buried John Henry in the graveyard They laid him six feet under the sand Every time a freight train go a-rollin' on by They say, "Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord Well, yonder lies a steel-drivin' man"