Lyrics John Henry - Tennessee Ernie Ford

When John Henry was a little baby
No bigger than the palm of your hand
His mommy looked down at little Johnny and said
"My Johnny gonna be a steel drivin' man"
Yes, Johnny gonna be a steel drivin' man

John Henry was a steel drivin' man
Drove steel all over the land
"Before I let the steam hammer get me down
I'm a-gonna die with my hammer in my hand"
Die with my hammer in my hand

John Henry went to the tunnel to drive
Steam hammer by his side
He beat the steam hammer to the top of the hill
He laid down his hammer and he cried, "Lord!"
Laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry had a lovin' little wife
Her name was Polly Ann
Johnny got sick and he had to go to bed
Polly drove steel like a man
Yes, Polly drove steel like a man

They buried John Henry in the graveyard
They laid him down in the sand
Every time a freight train come puffin' by
They say, "Yonder lies a steel drivin' man"
Yonder lies a steel drivin' man