John Henry

John Henry was a little boy
Put him in your hand
Sat upon his father's knees
Said he gon' be-"I'll be a steel driving --
And I'm bound to be a steel driving man"

Send John Henry to the Colorado Mountain
Lot'a steel to drive
John Henry so low and the mountain so tall
He laid down his hammer and cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried

Henry said to shaker, "shaker you better pray
If I miss this six-foot steel
Tomorrow be you're burring day
Tomorrow be you're burring day"

So they sent John Henry to the Colorado Mountain
Lot'a steel to drive
John Henry so low and the mountain so tall
He laid down his hammer and cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry had a lovin' wife
Her name were Polly Ann
Hen' took sick and had to go on
Ann worked steel like a man
Ann worked steel like a man

John Henry had a lovin' wife
Took a heap of strength
She put down the hammer, and the hammer, Lord, it ring
Lord, who heard the hammer ring
Who heard the hammer ring