John Henry
John Henry was a little baby
Sitting on his momma's knee
Said The Big Bend Tunnel on the C O Road
Is gonna be the death of me
Lord
Be the death of me
When John Henry was a little baby
Sitting on his poppa's knee
He took a hammer  a little piece of steel
Said Hammer's gonna be the death of me
Lord
Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Mary Magdalene
Every day she would sing for John Henry
Just to hear his hammer when it swing
Lord
Just to hear his hammer when it swing
And now the captain he says 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
Lord lord
I'm gonna whop that steel on down
John Henry said to his captain
I know a man ain't nothing but a man
But before i'll let your steam drill beat me down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand
Lord
I'll die with my hammer in my hand
John Henry said to his shaker
Shaker  why don't you sing
And now i'm throwing forty pounds
From my hip on down
Listen to the cold steel ring
Lawdy
Lawdy
Listen to the cold steel ring
John Henry said to his captain
Looky yonder what i see
Steam drill broke  your hole done choke
You can't drive steel like me
Lord
You can't drive steel like me
John Henry a working on the mountain
Hammer was a striking fire
But he worked so hard it broke his poor heart
He laid down his hammer and he died
Lawdy
He lad down his hammer and he died
Now momma's gonna shoe my pretty little feet
Poppy gonna glove my hand
Sister gonna kiss my red  ruby lips
I don't need no man
Lawdy
Lawdy
My steel driving man
Lawdy
Lawdy
My steel driving man