John Henry was a little baby
Sitting on his daddy's knee
Cried, "The Big Bend Tunnel on the C. and O. road
It's a-goin' to be the d**h of me
It's a-goin' to be the d**h of me"
John Henry put a hole up in the rock
One down in the side
Oh, the rock was so tall, John Henry was so small
He laid down his hammer, and he cried
He laid down his hammer, and he cried
Oh, the people heard a mighty rumblin'
Thought the tunnel might be fallin' in
John Henry said, "It's nothin' in the world
But my steel hammer hossin' in the wind
But my steel hammer hossin' in the wind
John Henry said to his shaker
"Boy, you'd better pray
If ever I miss this six foot of steel
Tomorrow'll be your burying day
Tomorrow'll be your burying day"
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Julie Ann
He hugged her, he kissed her before he died
Says, "Oh Julie, do the best you can, can
Oh Julie, do the best you can"