John Henry Songtext
von Willie Wright

When John Henry was a baby, sittin′ on his daddy's knee
Picked up a hammer, little piece of steel
Said, "A hammer be the death of me, Lord, Lordy
A hammer be the death of me"

Well, the captain said to John Henry
"I′m gonna bring me a steel drill 'round
I'm gonna bring me a steel drill out on the job
I′m gonna whop that steel on down, Lord, Lordy
I′ll whop that steel on down
I'm gonna whop that steel on down, Lord, Lordy
Whop that steel on down"

John Henry, he could whistle, he could sing
Went to the mountains early in the morning
Just to hear his hammer ring, Lord, Lordy
Hear his hammer ring
Just to hear his hammer ring, Lord, Lordy
Hear his hammer ring


Well, John Henry said to the captain, "Woo, look-a yonder what I see
Your hole done choked, your wheel done broke
And you can′t drive steel like me, no, no
You can't drive steel like me
I said you can′t drive steel like me, no, no
Can't drive steel like me"

Well, John Henry went to the White House
And this hammer was striking for you
Struck so hard, he broke his poor heart
And he laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lordy
Laid down his hammer and he died
Well, he laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lordy
Laid down his hammer and he died

Well, they took John Henry to the White House
And they buried him in the sand
And every locomotive come a-roaring by
Said, "There lies a steel driving man, Lord, Lordy
There lies a steel driving man"
They say, "There lies a steel driving man, Lord, Lordy
There lies a steel driving man"