Tom: C
C
Well when John Henry was a little baby boy
G
No bigger than the palm of your hand
C
Well John Henrys ma looked down at him and said
Am
John you gonna be a steel driving man lord, lord
C G C
John you gonna be a steel driving man
[Verse 2]
C
Now the man who invented that ol’ steam drill
G
He thought it was mighty fine
C
But John Henry drove it down fifteen feet
Am
While the steam drill only made it nine lord, lord
C G C
steam drill only made it nine
[Verse 3]
C
Well John Henrys captain he sat out on a rock
G
Said boys this tunnels caving in
C
Well John Henry smiled at his captain and said
Am
“boss that’s just my hammer suckin’ wind”
C G C
“boss that’s just my hammer suckin’ wind”
[Verse 4]
C
Well John Henry hammered in that ole mountain side
G
Till his hammer caught on fire
C
The last poor words that ole John Henry said
Am
“give me a cool drink of water for I die” lord, lord
C G C
“give me a cool drink of water for I die”
[Verse 5]
C
Well John Henry had a little woman
G
Her name was Polly Anne
C
well John he got sick lord, he had to go to bed
Am
Polly drove that steel like a man lord, lord
C G C
Polly drove that steel like a man
C
Well they took John Henry to the graveyard
G
Put him six feet under the sand
C
Now every time that ol train goes rolling by
A
They say “yonder lies that steel drivin man” lord, lord
C G C
They say “yonder lies that steel drivin man”
