Well John Henry was a little bitty boy
No bigger than the palm of your hand
His mama looked down at John Henry and said
“My little Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord
Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man”

When John Henry was a little baby boy
Sittin’ on his mama’s knee
He picked up a hammer and a little bitty piece of steel and said
“Hammer gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
This hammer gonna be the death of me”

John Henry said to his captain
"Hey now, captain, why don't you sing?
I'm swinging 29 pounds from the hips on down
I'd love to hear that cold steel ring, Lord, Lord
I love to hear that cold steel ring"

Well now John Henry went down to the tunnel to drive
Big steam drill by his side
But he beat that steam drill to the top of the hill
And then he laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lord
He laid down his hammer and he died

And they took John Henry to the graveyard
Laid him six feet down under the sand
And every stream locomotive comes rushing by
Says "Yonder lies a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord
Yonder lies a steel-driving man"
They say yonder lies a steel-driving, steel-driving, steel-driving
Yonder lies a steel-driving man
They say yonder lies a steel-driving, steel-driving, steel-driving
Yonder lies a steel-driving man

They say yonder lies a steel-driving, steel-driving, steel-driving
Yonder lies a steel-driving man
They say yonder lies a steel-driving, steel-driving, steel-driving
Yonder lies a steel-driving man