John Henry

(album: Nashville Underground - 1968)

When John Henry was a little baby
Sitting on his mama's knee
Well he picked up a feather and a piece of steel
And said that's gonna be the death of me
Lord, Lord, Lord that's gonna be the death of me
Well John Henry had a little woman
Name of Polly Ann
Well John got sick had to lay down on the bed
Polly drove steel like a man
Lord, Lord, Lord, Polly drove steel like a man

Well John Henry went up on the mountain
Well the mountain was sinking in
He said come on captain I know what I'm doing
It ain't nothing but my hammer sucking wind
Lord, Lord, Lord, It ain't nothing but my hammer sucking wind

Well John Henry went up on the mountain
Lord the mountain was so high
He said we're gonna shake this steel driving down
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Give me a cool drink of water before I die

Some say he came from England
Some say he came from Spain
But John Henry was nothing but a Louisiana man
And he died with his hammer in his hand
Lord, Lord, Lord, he died with his hammer in his hand
Steel driving man, he died with his hammer in his hand
Lord ain't nothing but my hammer sucking wind etc. etc.