John Henry Lyrics - Woody's Roots - Woody Guthrie

John Henry, when he was a baby 

Settin' on his mammy's knee 

Picked up an hammer in his little right hand 

Said, "Hammer be the death of me, me, me 

Hammer be the death of me" 

Some say he's born in Texas 

Some say he's born up in Maine 

I just say he was a Louisiana man 

Leader of a steel-driving chain gang 

Leader on a steel-driving gang 

Well, the Captain said to John Henry 

"I'm gonna bring my steam drill around 

Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job 

Gonna whup that steel on down, down, down 

Whup that steel on down" 

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John Henry said to the Captain 

(What he say?) 

"You can bring your steam drill around 

You can bring your steam drill out on the job 

I'll beat your steam drill down, down, down 

Beat your steam drill down" 

John Henry said to his Shaker 

"Shaker, you had better pray 

If you miss your six feet of steel 

I'll be your buryin' day, day, day 

I'll be your buryin' day" 

Now, the Shaker said to John Henry 

(Yes sir) 

"Man ain't nothing but a man 

(No he ain't) 

But before I'd let that steam drill beat me down 

(I believe him) 

I'd die with an hammer in my hand, hand, hand 

(I believe him) 

I'd die with an hammer in my hand" 

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John Henry had a little woman 

Her name was Polly Anne 

John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed 

While Polly handled steel like a man, man, man 

Polly handled steel like a man 

They took John Henry to the graveyard 

Laid him down in the sand 

Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by 

Hollered, there lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man 

There lies a steel-drivin' man 

There lies a steel-drivin' man, man, man 

There lies a steel-drivin' man