Henry got a letter, said his mother was dead Put his children on a passenger train He gonna ride the blind, lordy He gonna ride the blind
SOLO
Henry looked down, railroad track, spied the steel-drivin' coming down \"'Fore I let that steel-drive beat me down, Die with the hammer in my hand Lord, I'll die with the hammer in my hand.\"
SOLO
Henry went on the mountain top, give his horn a blow Last words the captain said, \"John Henry was a natch'l man. John Henry was a natural man.\"
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Henry had a woman, dress she wore was red Run on down that railroad track Goin' where John Henry fell dead \"Yes, I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead.\"
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Henry had a baby boy, hold him in his palm of his hand Last words that poor boy said, \"I'm gonna learn to be a steel-drivin' man. Yes I'll learn to be a steel-drivin' man.\"