When John Henry was a little bitty boy Sittin' on his mommy's knee He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel Said, "This hammer gonna be the death of me" "This hammer gonna be the death of me" When John Henry was a little baby No bigger than the palm of your hand His mommy looked down at little Johnny and said "My Johnny gonna be a steel drivin' man" yes he is "My Johnny gonna be a steel drivin' man" John Henry was a steel drivin' man Drove steel all over the land 'Fore I let the steam hammer get me down I'll die with my hammer in my hand Die with my hammer in my hand John Henry went to the tunnel to drive Steam hammer by his side He beat the steam hammer to the top of the hill And he laid down his hammer and he cried, oh Lord Laid down his hammer and he cried The captain said to John Henry "I believe that mountain's cavin' in" John Henry just laughed at the captain and said "That ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind" "That ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind" John Henry had a lovin' little wife Her name was Polly Anne Johnny got sick and he had to go to bed Polly drove steel like a man, yes Polly drove steel like a man They buried John Henry in the graveyard They layed him down in the sand Every time a freight train comes puffin' by, they'd say "Yonder lies a steel drivin' man" "Yonder lies a steel drivin' man"