John Henry

When John Henry was a little bitty babe
Well, he sat on his mammy's knee
And he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said, "This hammer be the death of me, great God
Hammer be the death of me"
John Henry, he could hammer
He could hammer and he could sing
Well, he went up on the mountain early in the mornin'
Just to hear his hammer ring, great God
Hear his hammer ring
John Henry had him a cute little gal
Name was Corrie Anne
And when John Henry took him a sick to the bed
Well, she'd swing the hammer just like a man, great God
Swing a hammer just like a man
John Henry said to his captain
"Well, a man ain't nothin' but a man
'Fore I let that steam drill beat me down
Well, I'll die with my hammer in my hand, oh Lord
Die with my hammer in my hand"
John Henry, he did hammer
Well, he hammered 'til the sparks did fly
Well, he whupped that steel on down into the ground
But then he laid down his hammer and he died, oh Lord
Laid down his hammer and he died, oh Lord
Laid down his hammer and he died