John Henry

John Henry was a little bitty boy
Sittin' on his mammy's knee
When he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
This hammer'll be the death of me, Lordy, Lordy
This hammer'll be the death of me

John Henry was a little bitty boy
No bigger than the palm of his hand
When his mammy she looked at him proudly and said
My Johnny be a steel drivin' man, Lordy, Lordy
Hey, Johnny be a steel drivin' man

John Henry was a steel drivin' man
Drove steel all over the land
Before he would let that steamrail beat him down
He died with the hammer in his hand, Lordy, Lordy
He died with the hammer in his hand

John Henry went to the tunnel to drive
Steamrail was by his side
Before he would let that steamrail beat him down
He laid down his hammer and he cried, Lordy, Lordy
Laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry went up on the mountain
And he looked down on the other side
And the last words I heard were old John Henry said
A cool drink of water before I die, Lordy, Lordy
Cool drink of water before I die

John Henry had a little woman
And her name was Polly Ann
And the last words I heard were old John Henry said
Polly, drive that steel like a man, Lordy, Lordy
Hey, Polly, drive that steel like a man