John Henry was a little bitty boy sittin' on his mommy's knee
When he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
This hammer'd be a death of me
Lord, Lord, this hammer'd be a death of me

John Henry was a little bitty boy, no bigger than a palm of your hand
When his mommy looked at him proudly and said
'My Johnny'll be a steal drivin' man'
Lord, Lord, hey Johnny'll be a steal drivin' man

John Henry was a steel drivin' man, drove steel all through the land
Before he would let that steam drill beat him down
He'd die with the hammer in his hand
Lord, Lord, he'd die with the hammer in his hand

John Henry went to the tunnel drive, steam drill was by his side
Before he would let that steam drill beat him down
He laid down his hammer and he cried
Lord, Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry went up on the mountain and he looked down on the other side
And the last words I heard poor old John Henry said
'A cool drink of water before I die'
Lord, Lord, cool drink of water before I die

John Henry had a little woman and her name was Polly Ann
And the last words I heard poor old John Henry said
'Polly drive that steel like a man'
Lord, Lord, Polly drive that steel like a man