“John Henry” is an 19th century American folk ballad and a work song as well, based on the legend of the folk hero of the same name. John Henry lyrics are found in a variety of versions, making an infinite number of existing verses.
John Henry was most probably an African American who worked as a steel-driving man on the C & O’s Big Bend Tunnel. His work was to make dynamite holes to clear rock in the construction of the railroad tunnel using a hammer and steel chisel. At the time, the first steam-powered machine drills were introduced at construction sites. The long narrative of the song is about the hero’s competition with the steam drill, which he wins – although he dies right after that.
Moreover, the core of this story is the struggle of man against the machine, labourers against their bosses, and people against the authority and power structure. Since the 60’s this is the current interpretation of the story; hence a lot of people identify with John Henry who is acknowledged by now as a working class hero. The phrase “A man ain’t nothing but a man,” found in most versions, underlines the universal significance of this ballad.
Through the years, many artists have recorded the song, like Peter Seeger, Pink Anderson, Chet Atkins, Paul Robeson, Harry Belafonte and Bruce Springsteen. The character has also appeared in a Walt Disney Feature Animation short film from 2000, John Henry.
On this page you’ll find the lyrics as recorded in Pete Seeger’s version. You can download for free a printable PDF file with lyrics and watch a sing-along video.
Table of Contents
Printable Lyrics PDF
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
Lyrics
John Henry was a little baby,
sitting on his papa’s knee
And he picked up a hammer and little piece of steel
Cried “Hammer’s gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
Hammer’s gonna be the death of me”
Cried “Hammer’s gonna be the death of me
Hammer’s gonna be the death of me”
Now the captain he said to John Henry,
“I’m gonna bring that steam drill around
I’m gonna bring that steam drill out on the job
I’m gonna knock that steel on down, down, down
I’m gonna knock that steel on down
I’m gonna knock that steel on –
I’m gonna knock that steel on –
John Henry told his captain
“Lord, a man ain’t nothing but a man
But before I let your steam drill beat me down
I would die with a hammer in my hand,
I would die with a hammer in my hand.
I would die with a hammer in my –
I would die with a hammer in my hand”
John Henry said to his shaker
“Shaker, why don’t you sing?
‘Cause I’m swigin’ thirty pounds from my hips on down
Just listen to that cold steel ring,
just listen to that cold steel –
just listen to that cold steel –
just listen to that cold steel ring”
Now the captain he said to John Henry,
“I believe that mountain’s cavin’ in!”
John Henry said right back to the captain,
“Ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind!
ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind!
ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind!
ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind!”
Now the man that invented the steam drill
He thought he was mighty fine
But John Henry draw fifteen feet
And the steam drill only made nine, Lord, Lord
The steam drill only made nine
I said the steam drill only made –
The steam drill only made –
John Henry hammered in the mountains
His hammer was striking fire
But he worked so hard, he broke his poor heart
And he laid down his hammer and he died,
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
Now John Henry had a little woman
Her name was Polly Ann
John Henry took sick and had to go to bed
And Polly Ann drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
I said Polly Ann drove steel like a –
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
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,
You can hear John Henry’s hammer –
You can hear John Henry’s hammer –
You can hear John Henry’s hammer ring
You can hear John Henry’s hammer –
You can hear John Henry’s hammer –
You can hear John Henry’s hammer –
You can hear John Henry’s hammer ring
Sing-along Video
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