Well John Henry was a little baby. Sittin' on his dady's knee. He pick up a hammer and a little piece of steel. And "God hammer's gonna be the death of me Lord Lord. Hammer's gonna be the death of me". Now the captain he said to John Henry. "I'm gonna bring that steam drill 'round. I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on these tracks. I'm gonna knock that steel on down. Gonna knock that steel on down". . John Henry told his captain. "Lord man ain't nothin' but a man. Before I let that steam drill beat me down. I'm gonna die with a hammer in my hand Lord Lord. Die with a hammer in my hand". . John Henry driving on the right side. That steam drill driving on the left. Says "Before I'll let your steam drill beat me down. I'm gonna hammer myself to death Lord Lord. I'll hammer my fool self to death". . Well captain said to John Henry. "What is that stone out here?". John Henry said "That ain't no stone. Captain that's just my hammer in here Lord Lord. That's just my hammer in here". . John Henry said to his shaker. "Shaker why don't you sing?. 'Cause I'm swigin' thirty pounds from my hips on down. Yeah listen to my cold steel ring Lord Lord. Listen to my cold steel ring". . Now John Henry he hammered in the mountains. His hammer was striking fire. But he worked so hard he broke his heart. John Henry laid his hammer and died Lord Lord. John Henry laid down his hammer and died. . Well now John Henry he had him a woman. Her name was Polly Ann. She walked down to those tracks picked up John Henry's hammer. Polly drove steel like a man Lord Lord. Polly drove that steel like a man. . Well every every Monday morning. When the bluebird he begin to sing. You can hear John Henry from a mile or more. You can hear John Henry's hammer ring Lord Lord. You can hear John Henry's hammer ring. So you can hear John Henry's hammer ring Lord Lord. You can hear John Henry's hammer ring