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John Henry, when he was a baby |
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Settin' on his mammy's knee |
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Picked up an hammer in his little right hand |
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Said, "Hammer be the death of me, me, meHammer be the death of me" |
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Some say he's born in |
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TexasSome say he's born up in |
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MaineI just say he was a |
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Louisiana man |
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Leader of a steel-driving chain gang |
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Leader on a steel-driving gang |
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Well, the |
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Captain said to |
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John Henry"I'm gonna bring my steam drill aroundGonna bring my steam drill out on the jobGonna whup that steel on down, down, downWhup that steel on down" |
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John Henry said to the |
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Captain(What he say?)"You can bring your steam drill aroundYou can bring your steam drill out on the jobI'll beat your steam drill down, down, downBeat your steam drill down" |
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John Henry said to his |
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Shaker"Shaker, you had better prayIf you miss your six feet of steelI'll be your buryin' day, day, dayI'll be your buryin' day" |
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Now, the Shaker said to |
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John Henry(Yes sir)"Man ain't nothing but a man(No he ain't)But before I'd let that steam drill beat me down(I believe him)I'd die with an hammer in my hand, hand, hand(I believe him)I'd die with an hammer in my hand" |
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John Henry had a little woman |
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Her name was |
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Polly Anne |
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John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed |
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While Polly handled steel like a man, man, man |
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Polly handled steel like a man |
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They took |
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John Henry to the graveyard |
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Laid him down in the sand |
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Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by |
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Hollered, there lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man |
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There lies a steel-drivin' man |
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There lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man |
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There lies a steel-drivin' man |
