John Henry was a Steel Drivin’ Man

John Henry was a steel drivin' man

John Henry was a steel drivin' man

He died in West Virginia

With his hammer in his hand

They sing about him all across the land

John Henry was a steel drivin' man

He beat the steam drill down

And then he died

He beat the steam drill down

And then he died

And it didn't change nothin'

But heaven knows he tried

He was buried with his hammer by his side

He beat the steam drill down

And then he died

John Henry

There's coal beneath the mountain down below

There's coal beneath the mountain down below

And the company come to take it

But the work was hard and slow

Said well, there ain't no money in it

We'll just go

Alright, there's coal beneath the mountain down below

And the union come and tried to make a stand

The union come and tried to make a stand

And West Virginia miners voted union to a man

You'd never know it now, but that was then

When the union come and tried to make a stand

But the company brought in all the big machines

Well, the company brought in all the big machines

Cut more coal in an hour

Than a shift could in a week

John Henry could've told them what that means

When the company brought in all the big machines

Hey

John Henry was a steel drivin' man

John Henry was a steel drivin' man

He died in West Virginia

With his hammer in his hand

They sing about him all across the land

John Henry was a steel drivin' man