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John Henry

 
John Henry, he could hammer,
He could whistle, he could sing.
Went to the mount'n early in the morn
Just to hear his hammer ring
Lord, Lord, Just to hear his hammer ring
When John Henry was a little baby
Sittin on his daddy's knee
He picked up a hammer
And a little piece of steel
He said, hammer be the death of me Lord, Lord
Hammer be the death of me.
Well the Captain said to John
Henry Gonna bring that steam drill round
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the track
Gonna whop that steel on down
Lord, Lord, Gonna whop that steel on down
Well the man what had the steam drill
Thought he was mighty fine
John Henry drove his fifteen feet
The steam drill only did nine
Lord, Lord the steam drill only did nine
John Henry hammered on the mountain
His hammer was striking fire
Well he hammered so hard
He broke his poor heart
He laid down his hammer and died
Lord, Lord, He laid down his hammer and died
John Henry had a little woman
And her name was Polly Ann
She picked up his hammer
Walked to the mountain
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
Lord, Lord, Polly Ann drove steel like a man
They took John Henry to the graveyard
And buried him in the sand
An every train that comes roarin by
Says There lies a steel drivin man
Lord, Lord, There lies a steel drivin man