John Henry when he was a baby
Sitting on his papa's knee
Well, he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said hammer' gonna be the death of me
Hammer gonna be the death of me, Lord
Hammer gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
Hammer gonna be the death of me

When the captain said to John Henry
Gonna bring that steam drill around
Gonna bring that steam drill out on this job
And I'll whop that steel on down, Lord
Gonna whop that steel on down
Whop that steel on down, Lord, lord
Whop that steel on down

John Henry said to the captain
You can bring that steam drill around
You can bring that steam drill out on this job
And ill beat that steam drill down Lord
Beat that steam drill down
Beat that steam drill down, Lord, Lord
Beat that steam drill down

John Henry had a little woman
Well, her name, it was Polly Anne
John Henry took sick and had to go to bed
And Polly drove steel like a man, Lord
Polly drove steel like a man
I said, Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly drove steel like a man
John Henry hammered in the mountain
Till the head of his hammer caught fire
Well he worked so hard and he broke his poor heart
And he laid down his hammer and he died, Lord
Laid down his hammer and he died
Laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lord
Laid down his hammer and he died

Well every Monday morning
When the bluebirds begin to sing
You can hear John Henry from half a mile
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring
Hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring