John Henry
Hank Thompson
Traditional
Key of G · Chords: I II IV V
Open in Bluegrass Book: transpose, play alongVerse 1
G John Henry was a little bitty boy D7 No bigger than the palm of your hand G His mammy looked down at Henry and said C John you're gonna be a steel drivin' man Lord lord G D7 G John you're gonna be a steel drivin' man
Verse 2
John Henry he said to his Captain D7 Captain I wanna hear you sing G I'll swing forty-nine pounds from my hips on down C Like to hear that cold steel ring Lord Lord G D7 G Like to hear that cold steel ring
Verse 3
John Henry had a little woman D7 And her name was Polly Ann G John Henry got sick and he had to go to bed C But Polly drove steel like a man Lord Lord G D7 G Polly drove the steel like a man
Verse 4
John Henry went to the tunnel to drive D7 Steam hammer by his side G Well he beat that drill to the end of the tunnel C Laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord G D7 G Laid down his hammer and he cried
Verse 5
John Henry drove steel on that mountain D7 Till his hammer caught on fire G And the last words we heard John Henry say C Cool drink of water before I die Lord Lord G D7 G A cool drink of water before I die
Verse 6
Well they took John Henry to the graveyard D7 Stuck him six feet under the sand G Every time the freight train would go puffin' by C They’d say there lies a steel drivin' man Lord Lord A D7 G Yonder lies that steel drivin' man