When John Henry was a little baby
   Sittin' on his mama's knee
   Well he picked up a feather and a piece of steel
   And said that's gonna be the death of me
   Lord, lord, lord that's gonna be the death of me
   Well John Henry had a little woman
   Name of Polly Ann
   Well John got sick had to lay down on the bed
   Polly drove steel like a man
   Lord, lord, lord, Polly drove steel like a man
  
   Well John Henry went up on the mountain
   Well the mountain was sinkin' in
   He said come on captain I know what I'm doin'
   It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
   Lord, lord, lord, It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
  
   Well john Henry went up on the mountain
   Lord the mountain was so high
   He said we're gonna shake this steel drivin' down
   Give me a cool drink of water before I die
   Give me a cool drink of water before I die
  
   Some say he came from England
   Some say he came from Spain
   But John Henry was nothin' but a Louisiana man
   And he died with his hammer in his hand
   Lord, lord, lord, he died with his hammer in his hand
   Steel drivin' man, he died with his hammer in his hand
   Lord ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind