John Henry had a little woman
And the dress she wore was red
She walked down the trash
She never looked back
I'm going where John henry fell dead
I'm going where John henry fell dead

John Henry had another woman
And her name was Paulie Ann
John Henry was taken sick
And he had to go to bed
Paulie Ann, John steal like a man
Paulie Ann, John steal like a man

John Henry told his little woman
honey, fix, honey, fix my myself assume
I got 99 miles of track I wanna line back
I'm gonna line'em by the light of the moon
I'm gonna line'em by the light of the moon

John Henry said to his capitan
You know a man ain't nothing but a man
I betting right now, you won't beat me down
I gonna die with my hammer in my hand
I gonna die with my hammer in my hand

John Henry hammered in the mountain
untill his hammer caught on by
The last words I heard that the poor boy said
Gimme a cool drink of water before I die
Gimme a cool drink of water before I die
Gimme a cool drink of water before I die
Gimme a cool drink of water before I die
Gimme a cool drink of water before I die
Gimme a cool drink of water before I die