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John Henry was a li'l baby, uh-huhSittin' on his mama's knee, oh, yeah,Said: "De Big Bend Tunnel on de C & O roadGonna cause de death of meLawd, Lawd. Gonna cause de death of meJohn Henry, he had a womanHer name was Mary MagdaleneShe would go to de tunnel and sing for JohnJes' to hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lawd, LawdJes' to hear John Henry's hammer ringJohn Henry had a li'l womanHer name was Lucy AnnJohn Henry took sick an' had to go to bedLucy Ann drove steel like a manLawd, Lawd, Lucy Ann drove steel like a manCap'n says to John HenryGonna bring me a steam drill 'roundGonna take dat steam drill out on de jobGonna whop dat steel on down, Lawd, LawdGonna whop dat steel on downJohn Henry tol' his cap'nLightnin' was in his eyeLetras de cancionesCap'n, bet yo' las' red cent on meFo' I'll beat it to de bottom or I'll die, Lawd, LawI'll beat it to de bottom or I'll dieSun shine hot an' burnin'Wer'n't no breeze a-tallSweat ran down like water down a hillDat day John Henry let his hammer fallLawd, Lawd, dat day John Henry let his hammer fallJohn Henry went to de tunnelAn' dey put him in de lead to driveDe rock so tall an' John Henry so smallDat he lied down his hammer an' he criedLawd, Lawd, dat he lied down his hammer an' he criedJohn Henry started out on de right handDe steam drill started on de lef"Before I 'd let dis steam drill beat me downI'd hammer my fool self to deathLawd, Lawd, I'd hammer my fool self to death"White man tol' John Henry"Nigger, damn yo' soulYou might beat dis steam an' dr;ll of mineWhen de rocks in dis mountain turn to gol'Lawd, Lawd, when de rocks in dis mountain turn to gol'John Henry said to his shaker"Nigger, why don' you sing?I'm throwin' twelve poun's from my hips on downJes' listen to de col' steel ringLawd, Lawd, Jes' listen to de col' steel ring"Oh, de captain said to John Henry"I b'lieve this mountain's sinkin' inJohn Henry said to his captain, oh my!"Ain' nothin' but my hammer suckin' win'Lawd, Lawd, ain' nothln' but my hammer suckin' win"John Henry tol' his shakerShaker, you better prayFor if I miss dis six-foot steelTomorrow'll be yo' buryin' dayLawd, Lawd, tomorrow'll be yo' buryin' day"John Henry tol' his captain"Looka yonder what l seeYo' drill's done broke an' yo' hole's done chokeAn' you cain' drive steel like meLawd, Lawd, an' you cain' drive steel like me"De man dat invented de steam drillThought he was mighty fineJohn Henry drove his fifteen feetAn' de steam drill only made nineLawd, Lawd, an' de steam drill only made nineDe hammer dat John Henry swung'It weighed over nine pound He broke a rib in his lef'-han' sideAn' his intrels fell on de groun'Lawd, Lawd, an' his intrels fell on de groun'John Henry was hammerin' on de mountainAn' his hammer was strikin' fireHe drove so hard till he broke his pore heartAn' he lied down his hammer an' he diedLawd, Lawd, he lied down his hammer an' he diedAll de womens in de wes'When dey heared of John Henry's deathStood in de rain, flagged de eas'-boun' trainGoin' where John Henry fell deadLawd, Lawd, goin' where John Henry fell deadJohn Henry's lil motherShe was all dressed in redShe jumped in bed, covered up her headSaid she didn' know her son was deadLawd, Lawd, didn' know her son was deadJohn Henry had a pretty lil womanAn' de dress she wo' was blueAn' de las' wards she said to him"John Henry, I've been true to youLawd, Lawd, John Henry I've been true to you""Oh, who's gonna shoe yo' lil feetsesAn' who's gonna glub yo' han'sAn' who'g gonna kiss yo' rosy, rosy lipsAn' who's gonna be yo' manLawd, Lawd, an' who's gonna be yo' man?"Dey took John Henry to de graveyardAn' dey buried him in de san'An' every locomotive come roarin' bySays, "Dere lays a steel-drivin' manLawd, Lawd, dere lays a steel-drivin' man" From Letras Mania