Henry got a letter, said his mother was dead Put his children on a passenger train He gonna ride the blind, lordy He gonna ride the blind Henry looked down, railroad track, spied the steel-drivin' coming down "'Fore I let that steel-drive beat me down, Die with the hammer in my hand Lord, I'll die with the hammer in my hand." Henry went on the mountain top, give his horn a blow Last words the captain said, "John Henry was a natch'l man. John Henry was a natural man." Henry had a woman, dress she wore was red Run on down that railroad track Goin' where John Henry fell dead "Yes, I'm goin' where John Henry fell dead." Henry had a baby boy, hold him in his palm of his hand Last words that poor boy said, "I'm gonna learn to be a steel-drivin' man. Yes I'll learn to be a steel-drivin' man."