When John Henry was a little baby boy, sitting on his papa's knee
Well, he picked up his hammer and a little piece of steel, said
"Hammers gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord" (repeat 4 times)

The captain said to John Henry, "I'm gonna bring that steam drill around
I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
I'm gonna whip that steel on down, Lord, Lord" (repeat 4 times)

John Henry told his captain, "Lord, a man ain't nothing but a man
But before I'd let your steam drill beat me down,
I'd die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord" (repeat 4 times)

John Henry said to his shaker, "Shaker, why don't you sing?
Because I'm swinging thirty pounds from my hips on down,
Just to listen to that cold steel ring, Lord, Lord" (repeat 4 times)

Now the captain said to John Henry, "I believe that mountain's caving in"
John Henry said right back to the captain,
"Ain't nothing but my hammer sucking wind, Lord, Lord" (repeat 4 times)

Now the man that invented the steam drill, he thought he was mighty fine
But John Henry drove fifteen feet,
The steam drill only made nine, Lord, Lord (repeat 4 times)

John Henry hammered in the mountains, his hammer was striking fire
But he worked so hard, it broke his poor, poor heart,
And he laid down his hammer and he died, Lord, Lord (repeat 4 times)