John henry was a man that was known for bad fighting He could lay down a fellow on his back He could line up a railroad track, yes, baby, line up a railroad track John henry had a baby and the dress she wore was red And she walked up and down the railroad tracks, And i'm going 'round my man till i'm dead, yes, lord Going 'round my man till i'm dead Going 'round my man till i'm dead, yes, baby, Going round my man till i'm dead John henry had a baby and he held [him in the palm] of his hand When he looked out in the yard and found a piece of steel, he said, "son, let that be a piece of you, yes, baby" He said, "son, let that be a piece of you" Now, john henry had a woman and her name was polly ann When john henry laid down and died a natural death, Polly drove that steel just like a man, yes, lord Drove that steel just like a man