John Henry: Lyrics

Traditional

• CD Classic Railroad Songs
• CD Original Folkways Recordings

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

Of note:

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