John Henry was a black man
He was born out where the
didn't know his own strength
But he did not swing a hammer all the time
There was a woman across the street
Well, John Henry like a natural man
John Henry quit poor Selma
just like he was quitting her
He loved that little stinger, Julian
Little stinger was something else,
A little man with a big .44
You know he shot his woman down,
But John Henry let him get on the floor
John Henry threw Stagger Lee in the river
Then he said, I've gotta say, so to say
Julianne, I'm singin' my say
but I do not like your love that way
Somebody's back door creepin'
Said, I'm tortured down deep in my soul
With that hell -bustin' frame,
John Henry's sins went away
And they tell me how the thunder rolled
what a frightening sight to behold
John Henry was a changed man
All he did was just work all the time
Well, he worked until the muscles
Well, a man ain't supposed
His children said, Henry, I love him
His poor Selma said, John Henry,
Oh, Ruby said, I'm gonna cook you
With cornbread in a four -foot pan,
John Henry was a different kind of man
They allow that hard work
I'm gonna leave that allowing up to you
Was he killed by hard work
Are you sure it ain't a happening to you?
And you know that's just the way