Listen, in every heart there burns a flame For the love of glory and a dreaded shame
But oh, how happy we would be if we understood That there is no safety but in doing good
People out West heard that John Henry's dead He couldn't hardly stay in bed
Couldn't hardly stay in bed Monday morning on the eastbound train
Good where John Henry dead Good where John Henry dead
Yeah, they carried John Henry to the graveyard Looked at him good and long
Very last words I heard his poor wife say My husband is dead and gone
My husband is dead and gone
John Henry's wife wore a brand new dress It was all trimmed in blue
The very last words I heard that poor gal say Johnny, I've been true to you
Johnny, I've been true to you
John Henry said to his shaker Darling, shake while I swing
I'm swinging a hammer from my shoulder Bound to hear a witchy ring
Bound to hear a witchy ring
John Henry hammered on a mountain Till the hammer caught on fire
Yeah, the very last words I heard that poor boy say He could drink of water before I die
Could drink of water before I die