John Henry was a steel drivin' boy But he went down Yes, he went down He went down Take my hammer and give it to the capt'n Boys, tell him I'm gone You can tell him I'm gone Yes, tell him I'm gone This old hammer done kill John Henry And it don't kill me No it won't kill me Ain't gonna kill me It's a long way from East Colorado Honey, to my home Honey, to my home Honey, to my home John Henry left his hammer All paint' in red All shinin' red John Henry's dead Take this hammer and carrie it to the capt'n You can tell him I'm gone Boys, tell him I'm gone You're sure he's gone