John Henry

When John Henry was a little-bitty boy
Sitting on his mommy's knee;
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said "this hammer's gonna be the death of me"
"This hammer's gonna be the death of me"

When John Henry was a little baby
No bigger than the palm of your hand
His mommy looked down at little Johnny and said
"My Johnny gonna be a steel driving man" (yes he is)
"My Johnny gonna be a steel driving man"

John Henry was a steel driving man
Drove steel all over the land
'Fore I let the steam hammer get my down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand
Die with my hammer in my hand

John Henry went to the tunnel to drive
Steam hammer by his side
He beat the steam hammer to the top of the hill
And he laid down his hammer and he cried (oh lord)
Laid down his hammer and he cried

The captain said to John Henry
"I believe that mountain's caving in"
John Henry just laughed at the captain and said
"That ain't nothing but hy hammer sucking wind"
"That ain't nothing but hy hammer sucking wind"

John Henry had a lovin little wife
Her name was PollyAnne
Johnny got sick and he had to go to bed
Polly drove steel like a man. (yes)
Polly drove steel like a man

They buried John Henry in the graveyard
They layed him down in the sand
Every time a freight train comes puffing by they say
"Yonder lies a steel driving man."
"Yonder lies a steel driving man."