Take this hammer and carry it to my captain, tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone Take this hammer and carry it to my captain, tell him I'm gone, just tell him I'm gone, I'm sure is gone
This is the hammer that killed John Henry, but it won't kill me, but it won't kill me, but it won't kill me This is the hammer that killed John Henry, but it won't kill me, but it won't kill me, ain't gonna kill me
It a long ways from East Colarado, honey to my home, honey to my home, honey to my home It a long ways to East Colarado, honey to my home, honey to my home, that where I'm going
John Henry he left his hammer, layin' side the road, layin' side the road, layin' side the road John Henry he left his hammer, all over in red, all over in red, thats why I'm gone
John Henry was a steel driving man, but he went down, but he went down, but he went down John Henry was a steel driving man, but he went down, but he went down, that's why I'm gone