John Henry (约翰·亨利) - Odetta (欧蒂塔)

John Henry was a little baby

Sitting on his momma's knee

Said The Big Bend Tunnel on the C O Road

Is gonna be the death of me

Lord

Be the death of me

When John Henry was a little baby

Sitting on his poppa's knee

He took a hammer a little piece of steel

Said Hammer's gonna be the death of me

Lord

Lord

Hammer's gonna be the death of me

John Henry had a little woman

Her name was Mary Magdalene

Every day she would sing for John Henry

Just to hear his hammer when it swing

Lord

Just to hear his hammer when it swing

And now the captain he says to John Henry

I'm gonna bring that steam drill round

I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on the job

I'm gonna whop that steel on down

Lord lord

I'm gonna whop that steel on down

John Henry said to his captain

I know a man ain't nothing but a man

But before i'll let your steam drill beat me down

I'll die with my hammer in my hand

Lord

I'll die with my hammer in my hand

John Henry said to his shaker

Shaker why don't you sing

And now i'm throwing forty pounds

From my hip on down

Listen to the cold steel ring

Lawdy

Lawdy

Listen to the cold steel ring

John Henry said to his captain

Looky yonder what i see

Steam drill broke your hole done choke

You can't drive steel like me

Lord

You can't drive steel like me

John Henry a working on the mountain

Hammer was a striking fire

But he worked so hard it broke his poor heart

He laid down his hammer and he died

Lawdy

He lad down his hammer and he died

Now momma's gonna shoe my pretty little feet

Poppy gonna glove my hand

Sister gonna kiss my red ruby lips

I don't need no man

Lawdy

Lawdy

My steel driving man

Lawdy

Lawdy

My steel driving man