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 going to be the death of me
Hammer's going to be the death of me
Hammer's going to be the death of me
Hammer's going to 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 will die with that hammer in my hand
I will 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 onnnn 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 she wore was red
And that 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