Lead Belly — John Henry Radio

[Intro] A work song is when you sing, that gives you a feeling, keep you from gettin' tired And when you get hungry, if you sing, you won't—you forget about being hungry And when you sing, you swing as you sing, and that's what you call a work song, it's a feeling John Henry was a steel-driving man, well that's mighty fine He was a double-jointed man, I don't guess you don't know that, did you? That's what made him drive so much steel He drove steel from Newport News to Cincinnati, Ohio, and he drove that all by hisself So, I'll tell you a story about it [Verse 1] John Henry was a newborn baby Sittin' down on his mama's knee Said, "That Big Bend Tunnel on C-and-O Road It's going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord It's going be the death of me It's going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord It's going to be the death of me [Verse 2] John Henry had two women One was named Mary Magdalene She would go out on the job and she would sing Do you hear John Henry's hammer ring? Lord, Lord Do you hear John Henry's hammer ring? Do you hear John Henry's hammer ring? Lord, Lord Do you hear John Henry's hammer ring? [Verse 3] John Henry had another little woman Her name was sweet Polly Ann John Henry taken sick, boy, and he had to go to bed Polly Ann drove stole like a man, Lord, Lord Polly Ann drove steel like a man Polly Ann drove stole like a man, Lord, Lord Polly Ann drove steel like a man [Verse 4] John Henry was sick, he called Polly Ann to his bedside and this is what he asked her Baby, who's gonna shoe your little feet? Baby, who's gonna glove your hand? Tell me, who's gonna to kiss your sweet little lips? Tell me, who's gonna be your man? Lord, Lord Tell me who's gonna be your man Tell me, who's gonna be your man? Lord, Lord Tell me who's gonna be your man [Verse 5] This is what she told him: My papa's gonna shoe my little feet My mama's gonna glove my hand My sister's gonna kiss my sweet little lip And you know I don't need no man, Lord, Lord You know I don't need no man And you know I don't need no man, Lord, Lord You know I don't need no man Talk to 'em now [Verse 6] Then they took John Henry to the White House And they bury him in the sand And every locomotive come rollin' by, sayin "There lie that steel-drivin' man" Lord, Lord "There lie that steel-drivin' man" "There lie that steel-drivin' man" Oh, Lord "There lie that steel-drivin' man"