John Henry was just a little bitty boy
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No bigger than the palm of your hand
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His mammy looked down at John Henry and say
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Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man Lord lord
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Johnny you're gonna be a steal drivin' man
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John Henry he said to his Captain Captain I wanna hear you sing
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I'll swing forty-nine pounds from my hips on down
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I like to hear that cold steel ring Lord Lord I like to hear that cold steel ring
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[ guitar ]
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John Henry had a little woman and her name was Polly Ann
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John Henry he got sick and he had to go to bed
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But Polly drove the steel like a man Lord Lord Polly drove the steel like a man
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John Henry went to the tunnel to drive steam hammer by his side
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Well he beat that drill till the end of the tunnel
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Laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord laid down his hammer and he cried
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[ guitar - steel ]
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John Henry drove the steel on that mountain till his hammer caught on fire
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And the last words we heard John Henry say
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Cool drink of water before I die Lord Lord a cool drink of water before I die
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Well they took John Henry to the graveyard stuck him six feet under the sand
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Everytime the freight train that go puffin' by
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They say there lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord yonder lies a steel drivin' man
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-----------------
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John Henry
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| Hank Thompson |
