John Henry

John Henry - Harry Belafonte

John Henry he could hammer

He could whistle he could sing

He went to the mountain early in the mornin'

Just to hear his hammer ring Lord Lord

Just to hear his hammer ring

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 a little piece of steel

Said hammer be the death of me Lord Lord

Said hammer be the death of me

When John Henry's fam'ly needed money

Said he didn't have but a dime

If you wait 'til the red sun goes down

I'll get it from the man in the mine Lord Lord

I'll get it from the man in the mine

I'll get it from the man in the mine Lord Lord

I'll get it from the man in the mine

Well John Henry went to the Captain

Said the captain what can you do

I can hoist a jack I can lay a track

I can pick and shovel too Lord Lord

I can pick and shovel too

I can pick and shovel too Lord Lord

I can pick and shovel too

Well the captain said to John Henry

Gonna bring me a steam drill 'round

Gonna bring a me steam drill out on the job

Gonna whup that steel on down Lord Lord Whup

That steel on down

Well John Henry said to the captain

Oh a man ain't nothin' but a man

'Fore I'd let your steam drill beat me down

I'd die with my hammer in my hand Lord Lord

Die with my hammer in my hand

John Henry said to the Captain

Looka yonder what I see

Hole done choke drill done broke

And you can't drive steel like me Lord Lord

Can't drive steel like me

Oh no you can't drive steel like me no no

Can't drive steel like me

Well John Henry drove into the mountain

His hammer was strikin' fire

He drove so hard he broke his poor heart

And he laid down his hammer and he died

Lord Lord laid down his hammer and he died

Laid down his hammer and he died great god

Laid down his hammer and he died

Oh they took John Henry to the White House

And they buried him in the sand

Every locomotive come roarin' by

Says there lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord there

Lies a steel drivin' man

Says there lies a steel drivin' man there

Lies a steel drivin' man

Says there lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord there

Lies a steel drivin' man