John Henry Lyrics - Songs For Rounders/at The Golden Nugget - Hank Thompson

John Henry was just a little bitty boy 

No bigger than the palm of your hand 

His mammy looked down at John Henry and say 

Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man Lord lord 

Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man 

John Henry he said to his Captain Captain I wanna hear you sing 

I'll swing forty-nine pounds from my hips on down 

I like to hear that cold steel ring Lord Lord I like to hear that cold steel ring 

[ guitar ] 

John Henry had a little woman and her name was Polly Ann 

John Henry he got sick and he had to go to bed 

But Polly drove the steel like a man Lord Lord Polly drove the steel like a man 

John Henry went to the tunnel to drive steam hammer by his side 

Well he beat that drill till the end of the tunnel 

Laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord laid down his hammer and he cried 

[ guitar - steel ] 

John Henry drove the steel on that mountain till his hammer caught on fire 

And the last words we heard John Henry say 

Cool drink of water before I die Lord Lord a cool drink of water before I die 

Well they took John Henry to the graveyard stuck him six feet under the sand 

Everytime the freight train that go puffin' by 

They say there lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord yonder lies a steel drivin' man