John Henry was a little boy
Sitting on his papa’s knee
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said, “Oh, the death of me,” Lord, Lord
“Oh the death of me.”

John Henry went up on the mountain
Down on the other side
The mountain was so tall
And John Henry was so small
That he laid down his hammer and he cried, Lord, Lord
He laid down his hammer and he cried

When they got that new steam drill
It was a looking so fine
John Henry made his 14 feet
While the steam drill only made 9, Lord, Lord
The steam drill only made 9

John Henry told his captain
“I ain’t a nothing but a man.
Before I let that steam drill beat me down,
Gonna die with my hammer in my hand”, Lord, Lord,
“I’ll die with my hammer in my hand.”

John Henry got sick and he had to go home
This is what he said
“Fix me a place I want a lay down
I got a mighty rolling in my head”, Lord, Lord,
“A mighty rolling in my head.”

John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Pollyanne
John Henry got sick and he had to go to bed
And Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord,
Polly drove steel like a man