John Henry was a little baby boy
You could hold him on the palm of your hand
And his Papa cried out this lonesome farewell
Son you’re gonna be a steel driving man lord, lord
Son you’re gonna be a steel driving man
John Henry went up on the mountain
Looked down on the other side
Lord the mountain was so tall John Henry was so small
He laid down his hammer and he cried poor boy
Laid down his hammer and he cried
John Henry walked through the tunnel
Had his captain by his side
The last words that John Henry said was bring me
Cool drink of what ‘for I die lord, lord
Cool drink of what ‘for I die
Talk about John Henry as much as you please
Say and do all that you can
There never was born in these United States
No such a steel driving man lord, lord
No such a steel driving man
John Henry told his captain
I want to go to bed
Lord fix me a pallet, I want to lay down
Got a mighty roaring in my head lord, lord
Mighty roaring in my head