Gonna Die With My Hammer in My Hand Lyrics

John Henry, he told his captain:
"A man ain't nothin' but a man.
Before I be beaten by this old steam drill,
I'm gonna die with my hammer in my hand.
Lord, lord!
Die with my hammer in my hand."
John Henry, he told his captain:
"Captain, how can it be?
The Big Bend Tunnel on the C&O Road
Is gonna be the death of me.
Lord, lord!
Gonna be the death of me."

John Henry had a little hammer.
Handle was made of bone.
Every he hit the drill on the head
Hammer reaches down and groans.
Lord, lord!
Hammer reaches down and groans.
John Henry, he told his shaker:
"Shaker, you better pray.
For if I miss this six foot steel,
Tomorrow be your burying day.
Lord, lord!
Tomorrow be your burying day."

John Henry had but one only son.
Sat in the palm of your hand.
The very last words John Henry said:
"Son, don't be a steel driving man.
Lord, lord!
Son don't be a steel driving man."
John Henry had a little woman.
Her name was Sally Ann.
John Henry got sick and he could not work.
Sally drove her steel like a man.
Lord, lord!
Sally drove her steel like a man.

The Williamson Brothers and Curry