John Henry Songtext
von Merle Travis

John Henry was a steel-driving man
Drove steel all over the land
Said, "Before I let a steam hammer get me down
I′m gonna die with my hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord
Die with my hammer in my hand."

Ever since I've been big enough to remember hearing anybody sing
Anything at all, I believe I′ve heard that old song about the
Strong man that hammered himself to death on the railroad. John
Henry was his name. There's been dozens and dozens of different
Tales about where John Henry come from. The southern folks claims
He was an iron worker from Birmingham. The west claims that he
Worked on the Santa Fe Railroad in the early days. And I've
Heard the east Kentucky coal miners claim that John Henry was
One of their very own. I don′t know myself where in the world John
Henry come from, but according to this song, he was a good ′un


When John Henry was a little bitty boy
No bigger than the palm of your hand
His mammy, she looked down at Johnny and said
"My Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord
Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man."

When John Henry was a little bitty boy
Sitting on his mammy's knee
Well, he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
And said, "This hammer gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
This hammer gonna be the death of me."

Well, John Henry was a steel-driving man
Drove steel all over the land
Said, "Before I let a steam hammer get me down
I′m gonna die with my hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord
Die with my hammer in my hand."

Well, Johnny went to the tunnel to drive
A steam hammer by his side
He beat the steam hammer to the top of the hill
And then he laid down his hammer and he cried, "Lord, Lord"
Laid down his hammer and he cried


Well, John Henry had a loving little wife
Her name was Polly Ann
Well, Johnny got sick and he had to go to bed
And Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly drove steel like a man