Burl Ives - John Henry lyrics

John Henry told his captain that a
Man was nothin' but a man
Before he'd let that steam
Drill run him down
He fought it with his hammer in his hand
Fought it with his hammer in his hand
The captain said to John Henry
"Gonna bring me a steam drill round
Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
Gonna whoop that steel on down
Gonna whoop that steel on down"
The captain said to his shaker, "Shaker
Why don't you sing?"
"I'm throwing twelve pounds from
The hips on down
Just listen to that cold steel ring
Listen to that cold steel ring"
The captain said to John Henry
"I think this mountain's cavin' in"
John Henry gave one long and lonesome cry
Said "That's only my hammer suckin' wind
That's only my hammer suckin' wind"
John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Polly Ann
When John Henry was sick and a layin' in bed
Polly drove steel like a man
Polly drove steel like a man
"Where did you get that dress
Gal? Where did you get those shoes so fine?"
"I got that dress from off a railroad man
And the shoes from a driver in the mine
And shoes from a driver in the mine"
John Henry went down to the railroad with
The twelve-pound hammer by his side
He walked down the track but
He didn't come back
Cos he laid down his hammer and he died
He laid down his hammer and he died