John Henry

John Henry, when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's knee Picked up an hammer in his little right hand Said, "Hammer be the death of me, me, me Hammer be the death of me" Some say he's born in Texas Some say he's born up in Maine I just say he was a Louisiana man Leader of a steel-driving chain gang Leader on a steel-driving gang Well, the Captain said to John Henry "I'm gonna bring my steam drill around Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job Gonna whup that steel on down, down, down Whup that steel on down" John Henry said to the Captain (What he say?) "You can bring your steam drill around You can bring your steam drill out on the job I'll beat your steam drill down, down, down Beat your steam drill down" John Henry said to his Shaker "Shaker, you had better pray If you miss your six feet of steel I'll be your buryin' day, day, day I'll be your buryin' day" Now, the Shaker said to John Henry (Yes sir) "Man ain't nothing but a man (No he ain't) But before I'd let that steam drill beat me down (I believe him) I'd die with an hammer in my hand, hand, hand (I believe him) I'd die with an hammer in my hand" John Henry had a little woman Her name was Polly Anne John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed While Polly handled steel like a man, man, man Polly handled steel like a man They took John Henry to the graveyard Laid him down in the sand Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by Hollered, there lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man There lies a steel-drivin' man There lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man There lies a steel-drivin' man