American Ballads and Folk Songs: page - 0105

Complete Text, Lyrics & Sheet Music

	John Henry was a li'l baby, uh-huh,* Sittin' on his mama's knee, oh, yeah,* Said: "De Big Bend Tunnel on de C. & O. road Gonna cause de death of me, Lawd, Lawd, gonna cause de death of me.5' John Henry, he had a woman, Her name was Mary Magdalene, She would go to de tunnel and sing for John, Jes' to hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lawd, Lawd, jes' to hear John Henry's hammer ring. John Henry had a li'l woman, Her name was Lucy Ann, John Henry took sick an' had to go to bed, Lucy Ann drove steel like a man, Lawd, Lawd, Lucy Ann drove steel like a man. *The syllables "uh-huh» and "oh, yeah" are to be repeated xa each stanza. [5]