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John Henry
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Irma Thomas
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John Henry was about three days old,
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Sittin' on his papa's knee.
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He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel;
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Said, "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord.
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Hammer's gonna be the death of me."
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The captain said to John Henry
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"Gonna bring that steam drill 'round.
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Gonna bring that steam drill out on the job.
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Gonna whop that steel on down. Down,
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Down.
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Whop that steel on down."
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John Henry told his captain,
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"A man ain't nothin' but a man,
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But before I let your steam drill beat me
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Down,
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I'd die with a hammer in my hand. Lord,
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Lord.
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I'd dies with a hammer in my hand."
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John Henry said to his shaker,
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"Shaker, why don't you sing?
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I'm throwin' thirty pounds from my hips on
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Down.
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Just listen to that cold steel ring. Lord, Lord.
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Listen to that cold steel ring."
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The man that invented the stream drill
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Thought he was mighty fine,
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But John Henry made fifteen feet;
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The steam drill only made nine. Lord, Lord.
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The steam drill only made nine.
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John Henry hammered in the mountain
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His hammer was striking fire.
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But he worked so hard, he broke his poor
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Heart.
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He laid down his hammer and he died. Lord,
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Lord.
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He laid down his hammer and he died.
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John Henry had a little woman.
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Her name was Polly Ann.
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John Henry took sick and went to his bed.
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Polly Ann drove steel like a man. Lord,
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Lord.
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Polly Ann drove steel like a man.
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John Henry had a little baby.
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You could hold him in the palm of your
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Hand.
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The last words I heard that poor boy say,
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"My daddy was steel-driving man. Lord,
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Lord.
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My daddy was a steel-driving."
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Well, every Monday morning
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When the bluebirds begin to sing.
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You can hear John Henry a mile or more.
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You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
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Lord, Lord.
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You can hear John Henry's hammer ring.
Irma Thomas Anyone Who Knows What Love I...
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