John Henry told his captain,
"Man ain't nothin' but a man
Before I'd be driven by this old steam drill, I'm gonna
Die with my hammer in my hands, Lord, Lord,
Gonna die with a hammer in my hands."
John Henry told his captain,
"Captain, how can it be?
The Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O road is
Gonna be the death (last) of me, Lord, Lord,
Gonna be the death of me."
John Henry had a little hammer
Handle was made of oak
Every time he hit that rail on the head
Hammer laid just down and broke, Lord, Lord
Hammer laid just down and broke
John Henry told his shaker,
"Shaker, you better pray
For if I miss this six-foot steel
Tommorow'll be your buryin' day, Lord, Lord
Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day."
John Henry had but one only child
Fit in the palm of your hand
The very last words John Henry said,
"Son, don't be a steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord,
Son, don't be a steel-drivin' man."
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Sally Ann
John Henry got sick and he could not work
Sally drove the steel like a man, Lord, Lord,
Sally drove the steel like a man bye and bye"