[Intro]
G | D | G | A | D | G D |
D | D | D A | D | x2
[Verse 1]
G D G A
John Henry was a new-born baby, sittin' down on his mama's knee
D G D
Say, "That Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O Road,
It's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
A D
It's gonna be the death of me.
It's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
A D
It's gonna be the death of me."
[Verse 2]
G D G A
John Henry had two women, one was named Mary Magdalene
D G D
He would go out on the job and she would sing,
"Hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord,
A D
Hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord,
A D
Hear John Henry's hammer ring."
[Verse 3]
G D G A
John Henry had another little woman, her name was sweet Polly Ann
D G D
John Henry taken sick, boy, and he had to go to bed
Polly Ann drove steel just like a man, Lord, Lord
A D
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
Polly Ann drove steel just like a man, Lord Lord
A D
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
[Verse 4]
G D G A
"Baby, who's gonna shoe your little feet, tell me, who's gonna glove your hand?
D G D
Tell me, who's gonna kiss your sweet little lips, now
Tell me, who's gonna be your man, Lord, Lord
A D
Tell me, who's gonna be your man.
Tell me, who's gonna be your man, Lord, Lord
A D
Tell me, who's gonna be your man?"
[Verse 5]
G D G A
"My papa's gonna shoe my little feet, my mama's gonna glove my hand
D G D
My sister's gonna kiss my sweet little lips, now
You know I don't need no man, Lord, Lord
A D
You know I don't need no man.
You know I don't need no man, Lord, Lord
A D
You know I don't need no man."
[Solo]
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D | D | D A | D | x2
[Verse 6]
G D G A
Then they taken John Henry to the White House, they buried him in the sand
D G D
And every locomotive come a-rollin' by, sayin',
"There lies that steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord
A D
There lies that steel-drivin' man.
There lies that steel-drivin' man, Lord, Lord
A D
There lies that steel-drivin' man."
