John Henry was a little baby
Sittin' on his papa's knee
And He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said, 'Hammer's gonna be the death of me Lord Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me'
I Said hammer's gonna be the death of me Lord Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me

Now the captain he said to John Henry
'I'm gonna bring that steam drill 'round
I'm Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
I'm Gonna whop that steel on down down down
Whop that steel on down
I'm Gonna whop that steel on down down down
Whop that steel on down'
John Henry said to his captain
'A man ain't nothin' but a man
But before I let your steam drill beat me down
I'd die with a hammer in my hand Lord Lord
I would die with a hammer in my hand
I would die with a hammer in my hand Lord Lord
Die with a hammer in my hand'

Now the man that invented the stream drill
He thought he was mighty fine
But John Henry drove fifteen feet
The steam drill only made nine Lord Lord
The steam drill only made nine
I said the steam drill only made nine Lord Lord
The steam drill only made nine
John Henry hammered in the mountain
His hammer was striking fire
But he worked so hard, he broke his poor heart
He laid down his hammer and he died Lord Lord
He laid down his hammer and he died
I said He laid down his hammer and he died Lord Lord
He laid down his hammer and he died
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Polly Ann
John Henry took sick and went to his bed
And Polly Ann drove steel like a man Lord Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
I said Polly Ann drove steel like a man Lord Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man

So every-every Monday morning
When the bluebirds begin to sing
You can hear John Henry a mile or more
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring Lord, Lord
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
John Henry had a little baby
You could hold him in the palm of your hand
And the last words I heard that poor boy say
'My daddy was steel-driving man Lord Lord
My daddy was a steel-driving man'
I said my daddy was steel-driving man Lord Lord
My daddy was a steel-driving man

So, every Monday morning
You can hear the bluebirds sing
You can hear John Henry a mile or more
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring Lord Lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring