John Henry

When John Henry was a little baby
He was sittin' on his mammy's knee
Well he stuck out his hand and he grabbed a piece of steel
Said, "It's gonna be the death of me
Well, it's gonna be the death of me"

John Henry said to his captain
"Well, a man ain't nothin' but a man
And before I let this steam drill beat me down
I'll die with this hammer in my hand
Well, I'll die with this hammer in my hand"

John Henry said to his shaker
"Well now shaker, why don't you sing?
'Cause I'm throwin' nine pounds from my hips on down
Just listen to the cold steel ring
Boy, just listen to the cold steel ring"

John Henry said to his shaker
"Well now shaker, why don't you pray?
'Cause if my hammer miss that little piece of steel
Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day
Well, tomorrow'll be your buryin' day"

Some said he was born in Texas
Some said he was born in Maine
But I don't give a damn where that poor boy was born
He was a steel drivin' man
Lord now, he was a steel drivin' man

Then the captain said to John Henry
"I believe the mountain's sinkin' in"
John Henry laughed at his captain and said
"It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind"

Took John Henry to the graveyard
And they buried him in the sand
Yes, and every locomotive come roarin' by
Said, "There lays a steel drivin' man
Lord now, there lays a steel drivin' man"