When John Henry was a little bitty boy He picked up a hammer in his hand Looked up at his mama and smilingly said I want to be a steel drivin' man Lord, Lord, I want to be a steel drivin' man Soon John Henry grew up to be a man And took a hammer in his hand He could drive steel with either hand He was a darn good steel drivin' man Lord, Lord, he was a darn good steel drivin' man Now John Henry drove an awful lot of steel He was the best driver in the land When he'd start in to drivin' down that steel The sparks would fly to beat the band Lord, Lord, the sparks would fly to beat the band One day they brought a steam driver around On John Henry's face was a smile Just give me a twelve pound hammer Mister Boss And I'll beat that driver by a mile Lord, Lord, I'll beat that driver by a mile Old John Henry started pounding down the steel The steam drill was there by his side They both drove steel for ten hours straight Then John Henry fell and he died Lord, Lord, then John Henry fell