John Henry was a little baby
Sittin; on his momma's knee
Said, "The Big Bend Tunnel on the C & O Road
Is gonna be the death of me, Lord
Be the death of me."

When John Henry was a little baby
Sittin' on his poppa's knee
He took a hammer, a little piece of steel
Said, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me."

John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Mary Magdalene
Every day she would sing for John Henry
Just to hear his hammer when it swing, Lord
Just to hear his hammer when it swing

And now the captain he says to John Henry
"I'm gonna bring that steam drill round
I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
"I'm gonna whop that steel on down."

John Henry said to his captain
"I know a man ain't nothin' but a man
But before I'll let your steam drill beat me down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand, Lord
I'll die with my hammer in my hand
John Henry said to his shaker
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
And now I'm throwin' forty pounds from my hip on down
Listen to the cold steel ring, Lawdy, Lawdy
Listen to the cold steel ring."

John Henry said to his captain
"Looky yonder what I see--
Steam drill broke, your hole done choke
You can't drive steel like me, Lord
You can't drive steel like me."

John Henry a-workin' on the mountain
Hammer was a-strikin' fire
But he worked so hard it broke his poor heart
He laid down his hammer and he died, Lawdy
He lad down his hammer and he died

Now momma's gonna shoe my pretty little feet
Poppy gonna glove my hand
Sister gonna kiss my red, ruby lips
I don't need no man, Lawdy, Lawdy
Not after my steel-drivin' man, Lawdy, Lawdy
Not after my steel-drivin' man