John Henry

John Henry was a little baby Sitting on his papa's knee Well he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel Says this hammer's gonna be the death of me The hammer's gonna be the death of me Hammer's gonna be the death of me Hammer's gonna be the death of me John Henry said to his captain, "Now a man ain't nothing but a man" Before I let your steel drill bring me down I will die with that hammer in my I'll die with that hammer in my hand I'll die with that hammer in my hand I'll die with that hammer in my hand John Henry said to his shaker, "Now shaker why don't you sing" I'm shaking twelve pounds from my hip on down Now don't you hear that cold steel ring Don't you hear that cold steel ring Don't you hear that cold steel ring Don't you hear that cold steel ring John Henry hammered in the mountain and the mountain it was so high And the last word that I heard that poor man cry He says, "Give me a cool drink of water before I die" Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die John Henry went down that railroad track With a twelve pound hammer by his side Yes he went down the track but he never came back Because he laid down his hammer and he He laid down his hammer and he He laid down his hammer and he died He laid down his hammer and he died John Henry had a little woman And the dress that she wore was red And the last words that I heard that poor girl said She says, "I'm going where John Henry fell dead" I'm going where John Henry fell dead I'm going where John Henry fell dead I'm going where John Henry fell dead