John Henry was a new-born baby,

sittin' down on his mama's knee

Say, "That Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O Road,
It's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
It's gonna be the death of me.

It's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
It's gonna be the death of me."

John Henry had two women,
one was named Mary Magdalene

He would go out on the job and she would sing,
"Hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord,
Hear John Henry's hammer ring.

Hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord,
Hear John Henry's hammer ring."

John Henry had another little woman,

her name was sweet Polly Ann

John Henry taken sick, boy,
and he had to go to bed
Polly Ann drove steel just like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man

Polly Ann drove steel just like a man, Lord Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man

"Baby, who's gonna shoe your little feet,

tell me, who's gonna glove your hand?

Tell me, who's gonna kiss your sweet lips now
Tell me, who's gonna be your man, Lord, Lord
Tell me, who's gonna be your man.

Tell me, who's gonna be your man, Lord, Lord
Tell me, who's gonna be your man?"

She told him,

"My papa's gonna shoe my little feet,
my mama's gonna glove my hand

My sister's gonna kiss my sweet little lips, now
You know I don't need no man, Lord, Lord
You know I don't need no man.

You know I don't need no man, Lord, Lord
You know I don't need no man."

Tell him now

Then they taken John Henry to the White House
they buried him in the sand

And every locomotive come a-rollin' by, sayin',
"There lies that steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord
There lies that steel-drivin' man.
There lies that steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord
There lies that steel-drivin' man."