John Henry, when he was a baby, Sittin' on his mammy's knee, Picked up a hammer in that little right hand Said "Hammer'll be the death of me, me, me Hammer'll be the death of me Hammer'll be the death of me, me, me Hammer'll be the death of me"
Well, they's some said he's born down in Texas, Some said he's born up in Maine. I just said he was a Louisiana man Leader of a steel driving chain gang Leader of steel driving gang Leader of a steel driving chain gang Leader of steel driving gang
Now the captain said to John Henry (What did he say?) "I'm gonna bring my steam drill around Gonna bring my steam drill out on this job And I'm gonna whop that steel on down, down, down Whop that steel on down I'm gonna whop that steel on down, down, down I'm gonna whop that steel on down"
John Henry said to the captain, (What did he say?) "Bring your steam drill around You can bring your steam drill out on the job And I'm gonna beat your steam drill down, down, down Beat your steam drill down Gonna beat your steam drill down, yes I am Beat your steam drill down
John Henry said to his shaker "Shaker, you had better pray If you miss your six foot of steel Tomorrow'll be your burying day, Mr. Shaker Tomorrow'll be your burying day."
Now the shaker said to John Henry "A man ain't nothing but a man I'm throwin' a hundred pound from my hips on down, Doing all that any man can, can, can Doing all that any man can Doing all that any man can, can, can I'm a doing all that any man can