When John Henry was a little baby

Sittin' on his mama's knee

Well he picked up a feather and a piece of steel

And said that's gonna be the death of me

Lord, lord, lord that's gonna be the death of me

Well John Henry had a little woman

Name of Polly Ann

Well John got sick had to lay down on the bed

Polly drove steel like a man

Lord, lord, lord, Polly drove steel like a man

Well John Henry went up on the mountain

Well the mountain was sinkin' in

He said come on captain I know what I'm doin'

It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind

Lord, lord, lord, It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind



Well john Henry went up on the mountain

Lord the mountain was so high

He said we're gonna shake this steel drivin' down

Give me a cool drink of water before I die

Give me a cool drink of water before I die



Some say he came from England

Some say he came from Spain

But John Henry was nothin' but a Louisiana man

And he died with his hammer in his hand

Lord, lord, lord, he died with his hammer in his hand

Steel drivin' man, he died with his hammer in his hand

Lord ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind etc. etc.