John Henry was a steel drivin' boy
But he went down
Yes, he went down
He went down
(break)
Take my hammer and give it to the capt'n
Boys, tell him I'm gone
You can tell him I'm gone
Yes, tell him I'm gone
(break)
This old hammer done kill John Henry
And it don't kill me
No it won't kill me
Ain't gonna kill me
(break)
It's a long way from East Colorado
Honey, to my home
Honey, to my home
Honey, to my home
(break)
John Henry left his hammer
All paint' in red
All shinin' red
John Henry's dead
(break)
Take this hammer and carrie it to the capt'n
You can tell him I'm gone
Boys, tell him I'm gone
You're sure he's gone