Cecile McLorin Salvant John Henry Lyrics Cecile McLorin Salvant lyrics

John Henry was a little baby
Sitting on his papas knee
When he picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Said this hammers going to be the death of me
Hammers going to be the death of me
Hammers going to be the death of me
Hammers going to be the death of me

John Henry said to his captain now a man aint nothing but a man
now before I let your steel drill bring me down
I will die with that hammer
I will die with that hammer
I will die with that hammer in my hand
I will die with that hammer in my hand

John Henry said to his shaker
shaker why don't you sing
im shaking twelve pounds from my hips onnnn down
now don't you hear that cold still ring
hear that cold still ring
hear that cold still ring
hear that cold still ring

John Henry went down that railroad track with a twelve pound hammer by his side yes he went down

the track but he never came back
because he laid down his hammer and he died
he laid down his hammer and he died
he laid down his hammer and he died
he laid down his hammer and he died

John Henry hammer in the mountains and the mountains they were so high
and the last word that's I heard that poor man cry
he said give me a cool drink of water before I die
a cool drink of water before I die
a cool drink of water before I die
a cool drink of water before I die

John Henry had a little woman
and the dress she wore was red
and that last words that I heard that poor girl said
she said I'm going where John Henry fell dead
I'm going where John Henry fell dead
I'm going where John Henry fell dead
I'm going where John Henry fell dead