VERSES:
1.  John Henry he was a little bitty boy, he was sittin' on his ma-ma's knee.  He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel, Lord, hammer'll be the death of me, Lord, hammer'll be the death of me.
2.  John Henry went upon the mountain, come down on the other side.  The mountain was so tall, John Henry was so small.  Lord, he lay down his hammer and he cried, "Oh, Lord"  He lay down his hammer and he cried.
3.  John Henry was on the right hand, but that steam drill was on the left.  "Before your steam drill beats me down, hammer my fool self to death.  Lord I'll hammer my fool self to death."
4.  John Henry told his captain, "Captain you go to town, bring me back a twelve-pound hammer and I'll whup your steam drill down, and I'll whup your steam drill down."
5.  For the man that invented that steam drill, thought he was mighty fine.  John Henry drove fourteen feet, and the steam drill only made nine, and the steam drill only made nine.
6.  John Henry told his shaker, "Shaker, you better pray, for if I miss this six-foot steel, tomorrow'll be your buryin'day, tomorrow'll be your buryin'day."
7.  John Henry told his little woman, "I'm sick and I want to go to bed.  Fix me up a place to lie down.  Got a rollin' in my head.  Got a rollin' in my head."
8.  John Henry had a lovely little woman, her name was Polly Ann.  John Henry got sick and he had to go bed.  But Polly drove steel like a man.  Polly drove steel like a man.