When John Henry was a little-bitty boy
Sittin' on his mommy's knee;
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said "this hammer's gonna be the death of me"
"This hammer's gonna be the death of me"

When John Henry was a little baby
No bigger than the palm of your hand
His mommy looked down at little Johnny and said
"My Johnny gonna be a steel drivin' man" (yes he is)
"My Johnny gonna be a steel drivin' man"

John Henry was a steel drivin' man
Drove steel all over the land
'Fore I let the steam hammer get my down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand
Diе with my hammer in my hand

John Henry went to thе tunnel to drive
Steam hammer by his side
He beat the steam hammer to the top of the hill
And he laid down his hammer and he cried (oh lord)
Laid down his hammer and he cried

The captain said to John Henry
"I believe that mountain's cavin' in"
John Henry just laughed at the captain and said
"That ain't nothin' but hy hammer suckin' wind"
"That ain't nothin' but hy hammer suckin' wind"
John Henry had a lovin little wife
Her name was PollyAnne
Johnny got sick and he had to go to bed
Polly drove steel like a man. (yes)
Polly drove steel like a man

They buried John Henry in the graveyard
They layed him down in the sand
Every time a freight train comes puffin' by they say
"Yonder lies a steel drivin' man."
"Yonder lies a steel drivin' man."