John Henry, he could hammer He could whistle or he could sing Oh, well, he went to the mountains early in the mornin' Just to hear his hammer ring, Lord, Lord Hear his hammer ring (Lord, Lord) John Henry was a little baby (baby) Sitting on the his daddy's knee (on his knee) Picked up a hammer, a little piece of steel He said, "Hammer gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord Hammer gonna be the death of me" (Lord, Lord) Hear the Captain said to John Henry "Looky yonder what I see Your hole done choke, the drill done broke And you can't drive steel like me, Lord, Lord You can't drive steel like me" (Lord, Lord) Hear the Captain said to John Henry I'm gonna bring me steam drill around I'm gonna bring me sterm drill out on the job I'm gonna whup that steel goin' down, Lord, Lord Whup that steel goin' down (Lord, Lord) Whup that steel goin' down, Lord, Lord Whup that steel goin' down (Lord, Lord) Whup that steel goin' down, Lord, Lord Whup that-