When John Henry was a little baby A sitting on his papa’s knee He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel Said, "Hammer’s gonna be the death of me," Lord, Lord 
"Hammer’s gonna be the death of me." 
Well, the captain said to John Henry Gonna bring me a steam drill ’round Gonna bring me a steel drill out on the job Gonna whup that steel on down, 
John Henry said to his captain "A man ain’t nothin’ but a man And before I let that steel drill beat me down I’ll die with a hammer in my hand, 
John Henry was driving on the mountain And his hammer was flashing fire And the last words I heard that poor boy say "Gimme cool drink of water ’fore I die, 
John Henry said to his shaker "Shaker, why don’t you sing?" "I’m a throwin’ nine pounds from my hips on down Just listen to that cold steel ring, 
John Henry said to his shaker "Shaker, why don’t you pray?" "’Cause if I miss this little piece of steel Tomorrow be your burying day, 
John Henry, he drove fifteen feet The steam drill only made nine But he hammered so hard that he broke his po’ heart And he laid down his hammer and he died, 
They took John Henry to the graveyard And they buried him in the sand And every locomotive comes a roaring by, says "There lies a steel driving man", 
file from: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
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