John Henry

John Henry was a small little boy
Sat down on his pa's old knee
He picked up a hammer and a little pin
Gonna be the death of me, oh boy
Gonna be the death of me

John Henry walked through the mine one day
With a steam mule upon his side
Lord, the miner was so tall, John, he was so fine
He laid down his hammer and he cried
Lord, he laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry turned his shaker bowl
And he said, "Son, you better pray
'Cause if I miss that old six-foot steel
Tomorrow they'll bury me
Tomorrow they'll bury me"

John Henry turned his cap one day
Said, "Son, just the Tennessee man
If before I let that old steel beat me down
Lord, I'll salvage my hammer in my hand
Lord, I'll salvage my hammer in my hand"

John Henry hammered in the mine one more
'Til his hammer it caught on fire
The last word he ever taught to say
Was "Cool, drank, cold water, pour it down
Cool, drank, cold water, pour it down"