Gonna Die With My Hammer In My Hand

Song Gonna Die With My Hammer In My Hand
Artist YoungStar
Album Anthology of American Folk Music

Lyrics

[00:18.72] John Henry told his captain,
[00:22.75] "Man ain't nothin' but a man
[00:26.20] Before I'd be driven by this old steam drill, I'm gonna
[00:29.76] Die with my hammer in my hands, Lord, Lord,
[00:34.87] Gonna die with a hammer in my hands."
[01:01.50] John Henry told his captain,
[01:05.47] "Captain, how can it be?
[01:09.08] The Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O road is
[01:12.92] Gonna be the death (last) of me, Lord, Lord,
[01:16.60] Gonna be the death of me."
[01:26.52] John Henry had a little hammer
[01:30.53] Handle was made of oak
[01:34.10] Every time he hit that rail on the head
[01:37.72] Hammer laid just down and broke, Lord, Lord
[01:41.74] Hammer laid just down and broke
[01:52.14] John Henry told his shaker,
[01:55.47] "Shaker, you better pray
[01:59.15] For if I miss this six-foot steel
[02:02.70] Tommorow'll be your buryin' day, Lord, Lord
[02:06.66] Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day."
[02:34.62] John Henry had but one only child
[02:38.33] Fit in the palm of your hand
[02:42.53] The very last words John Henry said,
[02:46.15] "Son, don't be a steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord,
[02:49.99] Son, don't be a steel-drivin' man."
[02:59.74] John Henry had a little woman
[03:03.42] Her name was Sally Ann
[03:07.06] John Henry got sick and he could not work
[03:10.83] Sally drove the steel like a man, Lord, Lord,
[03:14.43] Sally drove the steel like a man bye and bye"
[03:17.12]