Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Canonical path: /bruce-springsteen/john-henry
Related lyric paths: 6
Video embedded: yes
Lyric guide
John Henry
Read John Henry lyrics by Bruce Springsteen on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
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Curated by Ethan Walker
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Lyrics
John Henry
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Well, John Henry was a little baby
Sittin' on his daddy's knee
He pick up a hammer and a little piece of steel
And: God, hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord
Hammer's gonna be the death of me
Now the captain he said to John Henry
I'm gonna bring that steam drill 'round
I'm gonna bring that steam drill out on these tracks
I'm gonna knock that steel on down
Gonna knock that steel on down
John Henry told his captain
Lord, man ain't nothin' but a man
Before I let that steam drill beat me down
I'm gonna die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord
Die with a hammer in my hand
John Henry driving on the right side
That steam drill driving on the left
Says: Before I'll let your steam drill beat me down
I'm gonna hammer myself to death, Lord, Lord
I'll hammer my fool self to death
Well, captain said to John Henry
What is that stone out here?
John Henry said: That ain't no stone
Captain, that's just my hammer in here, Lord, Lord
That's just my hammer in here
John Henry said to his shaker
Shaker, why don't you sing?
'Cause I'm swigin' thirty pounds from my hips on down
Yeah, listen to my cold steel ring, Lord, Lord
Listen to my cold steel ring
Now John Henry, he hammered in the mountains
His hammer was striking fire
But he worked so hard, he broke his heart
John Henry laid his hammer and died, Lord, Lord
John Henry laid down his hammer and died
Well, now John Henry, he had him a woman
Her name was Polly Ann
She walked down to those tracks, picked up John Henry's hammer
Polly drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord
Polly drove that steel like a man
Well every, every Monday morning
When the bluebird he begin to sing
You can hear John Henry from a mile or more
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
So you can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord
You can hear John Henry's hammer ring
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Who performs "John Henry"?
Bruce Springsteen performs "John Henry", and this lyric page sits inside the Bruce Springsteen catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "John Henry"?
Yes. The related section below points to Born To Run and The River with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Bruce Springsteen?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Bruce Springsteen's lyric pages.
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