When John Henry was a little baby Sittin' on his mama's knee Well he picked up a feather and a piece of steel And said that's gonna be the death of me Lord, lord, lord that's gonna be the death of me Well John Henry had a little woman Name of Polly Ann Well John got sick had to lay down on the bed Polly drove steel like a man Lord, lord, lord, Polly drove steel like a man Well John Henry went up on the mountain Well the mountain was sinkin' in He said come on captain I know what I'm doin' It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind Lord, lord, lord, It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind Well john Henry went up on the mountain Lord the mountain was so high He said we're gonna shake this steel drivin' down Give me a cool drink of water before I die Give me a cool drink of water before I die Some say he came from England Some say he came from Spain But John Henry was nothin' but a Louisiana man And he died with his hammer in his hand Lord, lord, lord, he died with his hammer in his hand Steel drivin' man, he died with his hammer in his hand Lord ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind etc. etc.
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