Born With a Hammer in My Hand

Blue Highway

Key of G · Chords: I IV V

Verse 1

      G    D      G
I was born with a hammer in my hand
         G                          C
It's the kind of life I doubt you'd understand
          G
Well, I'd give anything just to hear that cold steel ring
             G           D            G
'Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand.

Verse 2

G        D                          G
Swingin' steel's the only life I've known.
       G                       C
I have never been afraid to be alone.
        G
Hope my mama understands I'll always be a working man,
             G           D            G
'Casue I was born with a hammer in my hand.

Verse 3

     G           D             G
John Henry was a steel driving man.
          G                               C
You could hear his hammer ring across the land.
      G
But before the steam drill came, John Henry knew my name
             G           D            G
'Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand.

Verse 4

    G        D                           G
The boss-man tries to break a good man's back.
         G                                C
It takes thirty men to lay eight miles of track.
       G
If the shaker holds the line, they'll be thirty miles behind me,
             G           D            G
'Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand.

Verse 5

     G           D             G
John Henry was a steel driving man.
          G                               C
You could hear his hammer ring across the land.
        G
But you put us side to side, he'd have to run and hide,
             G           D            G
'Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand.