Well when John Henry was a little baby boy
No bigger than the palm of your hand
Well John Henrys ma looked down at him and said
John you gonna be a steel driving man lord, lord
John you gonna be a steel driving man

Now the man who invented that ol’ steam drill
He thought it was mighty fine
But John Henry drove it down fifteen feet
While the steam drill only made it nine lord, lord
steam drill only made it nine

Well John Henrys captain he sat out on a rock
Said boys this tunnels caving in
Well John Henry smiled at his captain and said
“boss that’s just my hammer suckin’ wind”
“boss that’s just my hammer suckin’ wind”

Well John Henry hammered in that ole mountain side
Till his hammer caught on fire
The last poor words that ole John Henry said
“give me a cool drink of water for I die” lord, lord
“give me a cool drink of water for I die”

Well John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Polly Anne
well John he got sick lord, he had to go to bed
Polly drove that steel like a man lord, lord
Polly drove that steel like a man

Well they took John Henry to the graveyard
Put him six feet under the sand
Now every time that ol train goes rolling by
They say “yonder lies that steel drivin man” lord, lord
They say “yonder lies that steel drivin man”