John Henry

John Henry was a steel driving man
He pushed steel all over the land
He said, "Before I let that old steam drill get me down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand" Lord, Lord
Die with my hammer in my hand

Now, the man that made that old steam drill
He made it mighty fine
John Henry drove down fourteen feet
The steam drill only made nine Lord, Lord
The steam drill only made nine

John Henry's captain sat down on a rock
Said, "I think this tunnel's falling in"
John Henry smiled to his captain and he said
"That's just my hammer sucking wind" Lord, Lord
"That's just my hammer sucking wind"

John Henry had a sweet little gal
Her name was Polly Ann
John Henry took sick and he laid down on his bed
Polly drove steel like a man Lord, Lord
Polly drove steel like a man

They took John Henry to the graveyard
Six feet under the sand
And every time a train goes rolling by
They say, "Yonder lies a steel driving man" Lord, Lord
Yonder lies a steel driving man

Yonder lies a steel driving man Lord, Lord
Yonder lies a steel driving man