Van morrison john henry lyrics

When John Henry was a little baby 

Sittin' on his mama's knee

Well he picked up a feather and a piece of steel 

And said that's gonna be the death of me

Lord, lord, lord that's gonna be the death of me

Well John Henry had a little woman 

Name of Polly Ann

Well John got sick had to lay down on the bed 

Polly drove steel like a man

Lord, lord, lord, Polly drove steel like a man 

Well John Henry went up on the mountain 

Well the mountain was sinkin' in

He said come on captain I know what I'm doin'

It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind 

Lord, lord, lord, It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind 



Well john Henry went up on the mountain 

Lord the mountain was so high

He said we're gonna shake this steel drivin' down 

Give me a cool drink of water before I die 

Give me a cool drink of water before I die 



Some say he came from England 

Some say he came from Spain

But John Henry was nothin' but a Louisiana man 

And he died with his hammer in his hand

Lord, lord, lord, he died with his hammer in his hand 

Steel drivin' man, he died with his hammer in his hand 

Lord ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind etc. etc