John Henry

Lyrics for John Henry

John Henry, when he was a little baby He sat on his papa's knee And the first piece of steel that he ever see This is gonna be the death of me This is gonna be the death of me Of me, of me This is gonna be the death of me John Henry had a little woman Her name was Sarah Ann When John Henry was on his dying bed Lord, she dried tears just like a man She dried tears just like a man Like a man, like a man She dried tears just like a man John Henry said he was born in Texas Some said he was born in Maine John Henry was born down in North Carolina He's the leader of a steel-driving gang Lord, Lord, he's the leader of a steel-driving gang Of a gang, he's the leader of a steel-driving gang John Henry said to his captain When you go to town Bring me back a nine-pound hammer I'm gonna beat that steam drill I'm gonna beat that steam drill down Down, ooh, down I'm gonna beat that steam drill down John Henry went up on the mountain Hammer that weighed nine pounds He drove steel three days and nights, Lord The big rock come a-tumbling The big rock come a-tumbling down Tumbling down, tumbling down Well, the big rock come a-tumbling down John Henry said to his shaker What seem to be the trouble with you? That Big Bend Tunnel on the CBQ Lordy, it's gonna be the death of you Lordy, it's gonna be the death of you Of you, of you Lordy, it's gonna be the death of you Where'd you get that pretty little red hat Shoes and stockings so fine? Got this hat from a railroad man Got this stocking from a driver in the mine Got this stocking from a driver in the mine In the mine, in the mine Got this stocking from a driver in the mine Now who gonna shoe your little feet? Who gonna glove your hand? Who gonna kiss your rosy cheek? Lordy, who gonna be your man? And-a who gonna be your man? Papa gonna shoe my little feet Papa gonna glove my hand Papa gonna kiss my rosy cheek Lordy, Papa gonna be my man Papa gonna be my man Papa gonna be my man Papa gonna be my Now when John Henry died Buried him in the sand Three of his women come a-passing by Saying he sure been a steel-driving man Sure been a steel-driving man