@migu music@

John Henry - Burl Ives

John Henry told his captain

That a man was nothin' but a man

Before he'd let that steam drill run him down

He fought it with his hammer in his hand

Fought it with his hammer in his hand

The captain said to John Henry

“Gonna bring me a steam drill round

Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job

Gonna whoop that steel on down

Gonna whoop that steel on down ”

The captain said to his shaker

“Shaker why don't you sing ”

“I'm throwing twelve pounds from the hips on down

Just listen to that cold steel ring

Listen to that cold steel ring ”

The captain said to John Henry

“I think this mountain's cavin' in ”

John Henry gave one long and lonesome cry said

“That's only my hammer suckin' wind;

That's only my hammer suckin' wind ”

John Henry had a little woman

Her name was Polly Ann

When John Henry was sick and a layin' in bed

Polly drove steel like a man

Polly drove steel like a man

“Where did you get that dress gal

Where did you get those shoes so fine”

“I got that dress from off a railroad man

And the shoes from a driver in the mine

And shoes from a driver in the mine ”

John Henry went down to the railroad

With the twelve pound hammer by his side

He walked down the track but he didn't come back

Cos he laid down his hammer and he died

He laid down his hammer and he died