[00:03.97]John Henry was a little baby
[00:09.33]Sittin on his momma's knee
[00:13.86]Said, "The Big Bend Tunnel on the C & O Road
[00:17.45]Is gonna be the death of me, Lord
[00:22.33]Lord it's gonna be the death of me."
[00:27.13]When John Henry was a little baby
[00:31.80]Sittin' on his poppa's knee
[00:36.27]He took a hammer, a little piece of steel
[00:40.47]Said,dad's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
[00:44.58]dad's gonna be the death of me.
[00:48.51]John Henry had a little woman
[00:52.91]Her name was Mary Magdalene.
[00:57.30]Every day she would sing for John Henry
[01:01.25]Just to hear his hammer when it swing, Lord
[01:05.14]Just to hear his hammer when it swing.
[01:08.65]And now the captain he says to John Henry
[01:13.25]I'm gonna bring that steam drill round
[01:17.48]I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
[01:21.46]I'm gonna whop that steel on down.lord,lord
[01:25.57]I'm gonna whop that steel on down.
[01:29.29]John Henry said to his captain
[01:32.64]I know a man ain't nothin' but a man
[01:36.48]But before I'll let your steam drill beat me down
[01:40.58]I'll die with my hammer in my hand,Lord,lord
[01:44.75]I'll die with my hammer in my hand
[01:47.91]John Henry said to his shaker
[01:51.42]Shaker, why don't you sing?
[01:54.73]And now I'm throwin' forty pounds from my hip on down
[01:58.58]Listen to the cold steel ring,Lord,lord
[02:01.91]Listen to the cold steel ring.
[02:05.62]John Henry said to his captain
[02:08.59]Looky yonder what I see
[02:12.11]Steam drill broke, your hole done choke
[02:16.20]You can't drive steel like me, Lord,lord
[02:18.94]You can't drive steel like me.
[02:22.87]John Henry a-workin' on the mountain
[02:26.25]Hammer was a-strikin' fire
[02:29.99]But he worked so hard it broke his poor heart
[02:32.89]He laid down his hammer and he died, Lord,lord
[02:36.39]He lad down his hammer and he died.
[02:40.43]Now momma's gonna shoe my pretty little feet
[02:44.13]Poppy gonna glove my hand
[02:47.56]Sister gonna kiss my red, ruby lips
[02:50.83]I don't need no man,  Lord,lord
[02:54.39]Not after my steel-drivin' man.
[02:57.87]Not after my steel-drivin' man.