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John Henry was about three days old,
sittin' on his papa's knee.
He picked up a hammer
and a little piece of steel
said, "this hammer's gonna be
the death of me,
Lord, Lord.
this hammer's gonna be the death of me."
The captain said to John Henry
"Gonna bring that steam drill 'round.
Gonna bring that steam drill
out on the job.
Gonna whop that steel on down.
Down, Down.
Gonna whop that steel on down."
John Henry told his captain,
"A man ain't nothin' but a man,
But before I let your steam drill
beat me down,
I'd die with a hammer in my hand.
Lord, Lord.
I'd die with a hammer in my hand."
John Henry said to his shaker,
"Shaker, why don't you sing?
I'm throwin' thirty pounds
from my hips on down.
Just listen to that cold steel ring.
Lord, Lord.
Listen to that cold steel ring."
The man that invented the stream drill
Thought he was mighty fine,
But John Henry he made fifteen feet;
The steam drill only made nine.
Lord, Lord.
The steam drill only made nine.
John Henry hammered in the mountain
His hammer was striking fire.
But he worked so hard,
he broke his poor heart.
And he laid down his hammer and he died.
Lord, Lord.
He laid down his hammer and he died.
He laid down his hammer and he died.
Lord, Lord.
He laid down his hammer and he died.
Well, every Monday morning
When the bluebirds begin to sing.
You can hear John Henry a mile or more.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Lord, Lord.
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Hammer ring
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