John Henry was a little bitty boy No bigger than the palm of your hand He picked up a hammer and little piece of stell Johnny gonna make a steel drivin man, Lord Lord Johnny gonna make a steel drivin man John Henry told his captain The next time you go to town Can you bring John back a nine pound hammer I'm gonna beat that steam drill down, Lord Lord I'm gonna beat that steam drill down John Henry he told his shaker Shaker you better pray For if I miss that old little piece of steel Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day, Lord Lord Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day When they invented that old steam drill They thought that they had 'em somethin' fine John Henry sank her fourteen feet Steam drill only made her nine, Lord Lord Steam drill only made her nine John Henry was on the right hand side The steam drill was on the left Said before I will let that drill beat me down I'll hammer my old fool self to death, Lord Lord I'll hammer my old fool self to death You can talk about John Henry as much as you want Sing and do all that you can But there was never born in the United States No such a steel drivin' man, Lord Lord No such a steel drivin' man