I was born one morning rain was falling down
I heard my mammy say to my papy let's call this boy John Henry Brown

Walk on boy walk on down the road
There ain't nobody in this whole wide world gonna help you carry your load
Walk on boy

Well I left home one evening just about the age of ten
Got me a job on the levee totin' water to the hard workin men

Walk on boy walk on down the road...

Well the rich men make all the money the poor boy do all the work
Rich man live mighty high on the hog but the poor man live on the dirt

Walk on boy walk on down the road...

[ guitar ]
Well my old pappy told me just one thing to do
Find a good woman be good to her and she's gonna be good to you

Walk on boy walk on down the road...

Now you all heard this story bout the hammer that weighed nine pounds
The cat what swung it way up on the mountain
Was the name of John Henry Brown

Walk on boy walk on down the road...