John Henry was just a little bitty boy

No bigger than the palm of your hand

His mammy looked down at John Henry and say

Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man Lord lord

Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man

John Henry he said to his Captain Captain I wanna hear you sing

I'll swing forty-nine pounds from my hips on down

I like to hear that cold steel ring Lord

Lord I like to hear that cold steel ring

John Henry had a little woman and her name was Polly Ann

John Henry he got sick and he had to go to bed

But Polly drove the steel like a man Lord

Lord Polly drove the steel like a man

John Henry went to the tunnel to drive steam hammer by his side

Well he beat that drill till the end of the tunnel

Laid down his hammer and he cried Lord

Lord laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry drove the steel on that mountain till his hammer caught on fire

And the last words we heard John Henry say

Cool drink of water before I die Lord

Lord a cool drink of water before I die

Well they took John Henry to the graveyard stuck him six feet under the sand

Everytime the freight train that go puffin' by

They say there lies a steel drivin' man Lord

Lord yonder lies a steel drivin' man