John Henry (1960) - Odetta

John Henry was a little baby

Sittin;

on his momma’s knee

Said, «The Big Bend Tunnel on the C & O Road

Is gonna be the death of me, Lord

Be the death of me.»

When John Henry was a little baby

Sittin' on his poppa’s knee

He took a hammer, a little piece of steel

Said, «Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord

Hammer’s gonna be the death of me.»

John Henry had a little woman

Her name was Mary Magdalene

Every day she would sing for John Henry

Just to hear his hammer when it swing, Lord

Just to hear his hammer when it swing

And now the captain he says to John Henry

«I'm gonna bring that steam drill round

I’m gonna bring that steam drill out on the job

«I'm gonna whop that steel on down.»

John Henry said to his captain

«I know a man ain’t nothin' but a man

But before I’ll let your steam drill beat me down

I’ll die with my hammer in my hand, Lord

I’ll die with my hammer in my hand

John Henry said to his shaker

«Shaker, why don’t you sing?

And now I’m throwin' forty pounds from my hip on down

Listen to the cold steel ring, Lawdy, Lawdy

Listen to the cold steel ring.»

John Henry said to his captain

«Looky yonder what I see--

Steam drill broke, your hole done choke

You can’t drive steel like me, Lord

You can’t drive steel like me.»

John Henry a-workin' on the mountain

Hammer was a-strikin' fire

But he worked so hard it broke his poor heart

He laid down his hammer and he died, Lawdy

He lad down his hammer and he died

Now momma’s gonna shoe my pretty little feet

Poppy gonna glove my hand

Sister gonna kiss my red, ruby lips

I don’t need no man, Lawdy, Lawdy

Not after my steel-drivin' man, Lawdy, Lawdy

Not after my steel-drivin' man