John Henry had a little woman And the dress she wore was red She walked down the track She never looked back I'm going where John Henry fell dead I'm going where John Henry fell dead John Henry had another woman And her name was Polly Anne John Henry was taken sick And he had to go to bed Polly Anne drove steel like a man Polly Anne drove steel like a man John Henry told his little woman Honey fix my supper soon I got ninety-nine miles Of track I wanna line back I'm gonna line 'em by the light of the moon I'm gonna line 'em by the light of the moon John Henry said to his captain You know a man ain't nothin' but a man I'm bettin' right now you won't beat me down I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand John Henry hammered in the mountain Until his hammer caught on fire The last word's I heard that the poor boy said Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die