John Henry

traditional

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 When John HDenry was a little baby
 sitting on his mammy's knAee
 he piDcked up a hammer in his little right hand
 This haD/Emmer'll be the dDeath of D/Eme, Lord, LoGrd,
 hamDmer'll be the deAath of mDe.

The captain said to John Henry,

I'm gonna bring that steam drill round.

I'm gonna bring that steam drill round on this job

and work that steel on down, down, down, (x2)

John Henry said to his captain,

You can bring that old steam drill round.

You can bring that steam drill round on this job

and I'll beat your steam drill down, down, down (x2)

John Henry said to his shaker,

Shaker, you had better pray.

If you miss your six feet of steel

tomorrow be your burying day, day, day (x2)

The shaker said to John Henry,

A man ain't nothing but a man.

Before you let that steam drill beat you down

you'd better die with your hammer in your hand, Lord, Lord (x2)

John Henry said to his shaker,

Shaker, now why don't you sing?

I'm swinging nine pounds from the shoulders on down,

listen to my cold steel ring, ring ring (x2)

John Henry and the steam drill

took to driving steel and throwing sand

and John Henry beat that steam drill three inches down

but he died with hammer in his hand, Lord, Lord (X2)

They took John Henry to the graveyard

laid him down in the sand.

And every locomotive that comes a'rustling by

hollers, yonder lies a steel driving man, man, man (X2)