John Henry was a little bitty boy, no bigger than the palm of your handHis mammy looked down at Henry and said, Johnny gonna be a steel-drivin' man, Lord, LordJohnny gonna be a steel-drivin' manJohnny Henry, he said to his captain, Captain, I wanna hear you singI swing forty-nine pounds from my hips on downLike to hear that cold steel ring, Lord, LordLike to hear that cold steel ringJohnny Henry had a little woman, and her name was Polly AnnJohnny Henry got sick and he had to go to bedBut Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, LordPolly drove steel like a manJohnny Henry went to the tunnel to drive, steam hammer by sideWell, he beat that drill to the end of the tunnelLaid down his hammer and he cried, loud, loudLaid down his hammer and he criedJohnny Henry drove steel in the mountain till his hammer caught on fireAnd the last words we heard Johnny Henry sayCool drink of water, before I die, loud, loudCool drink of water, before I dieWell, they took John Henry to the graveyardStuck him six feet under the sandEvery time that freight train would go puffin' byThey'd say, there lies a steel-drivin' man, Lord, LordYonder lies that steel-drivin' man