John Henry was a little baby, sittin' down on his daddy's knee
Well, he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
He said, hammer's gonna be the death of me
He said, hammer's gonna be the death of me

Well, the captain said to John Henry
I'm gonna bring that steam drill down
I'm gonna bring that steam drill down, oh lord
I'm gonna whoop that steel on down
I'm gonna whoop that steel on down

Well, John Henry said to his captain
a man ain't nothin' but a man
But before I let that steam drill beat me down

I'll die with a hammer in my hand
I'll die with a hammer in my hand
Well, John Henry drove fifteen feet now
and the steam drill made nine

But he hammered so hard he broke his heart
and he laid down his hammer and died
He laid down his hammer and died