John Henry

When John Henry was just a little bitty boy no bigger

than the palm of your hand

His mommy looked down at John Henry and say

Well Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man Lord lord

Well Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man

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

I love to hear that cold steel ring Lord Lord I love

to hear that cold steel ring

[ guitar ]John Henry had a pretty little woman and her name was Polly Ann

John Henry he took sick and he had gone to bed

Polly drove the steel like a man Lord Lord but Polly

drove the steel like a man

John Henry went up on that mountain had that steam hammer by his side



Well beat that drill till the end of the line

He laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord he laid

down his hammer and he cried

[ guitar ]John Henry drove the steel on that mountain

till that hammer caught on fire

Well the very last words I'd hear ol' John Henry say

Cool glass of water I'm gonna die Lord Lord a cool

glass of water I'm gonna die

Well they bury John Henry in the graveyard they laid

him six feet under the sand

Everytime 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