John Henry Songtext
von Cephas & Wiggins

When John Henry was a little boy
Bigger than the palm of your hand
By the time that boy he was nine years old
Driving strikes like a man
Driving strikes like a man

Now John Henry was a little boy
Sittin′ on his mammy's knee
He picked up a hammer and a little bit of steel
Hammer gonna be the death of me
Hammer gonna be the death of me

Now John Henry said to the captain, yeah
Man you ought to see me swing
I weigh forty-nine pounds from my hips on down
I love to hear that cold steel ring
I love to hear that cold steel ring


Now John Henry said, said to the captain, captain, yeah
Man ain′t nothing but a man
But before I let the steam drill beat me down
I'm gonna die with this hammer in my hand
Gonna die with this hammer in my hand

Now John Henry went to that tunnel to drive
Steam drill was by his side
He beat that steam drill three chests and down
He laid down that hammer, lord, he died
Laid down the hammer and he died

Now John Henry drove steel in a tunnel, yeah
His hammer caught on fire
He looked at the water boy and he said
Cool drink of water before I die
Cool drink of water before I die

Now the captain said to John Henry, Henry, yeah
This mountain is caving in
John Henry said, oh, captain, yes
Just my hammer sucking wind
Just my hammer sucking wind


Now John Henry had a little wife
Her name was Polly Ann
Now John got sick, lord, he could not get well
Oh Polly drove steel like a man
Oh Polly drove steel like a man

They took John Henry to the graveyard
Buried him six feet in the sand
Every time a locomotive passed by
They'd dare say there′s a steel-driving man
There lies a steel-driving man
Now there lies a steel-driving man
There lies a steel-driving man