John Henry ("This Is Jazz" Broadcast)

John Henry was a newborn baby
Sittin' down on his mama's knee
Said, "That Big Bend tunnel on that C&O road
Is goin' to be the death of me lord, lord
Is goin' to be the death of me
Is goin' to be the death of me lord, lord
Is goin' to be the death of me"

John Henry had two little women
One was named Mary Magdalene
She would walk on the job and she would sing
"To hear John Henry's hammer ring lord, lord
Hear John Henry's hammer ring
To hear John Henry's hammer ring lord, lord
To hear John Henry's hammer ring"

John Henry had another little woman
Her name was Sweet Polly Ann
John Henry took sickboard and he had to go to bed
Polly Ann drove steel like a man lord, lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man
Polly Ann drove steel like a man lord, lord
Polly Ann drove steel like a man

Baby who's gonna shoe your little feet
Tell me who's gonna glove your hand
Tell me who's gonna kiss your sweet little lips now
Tell me who's gonna be your man lord, lord
Tell me who's gonna be yo' man?
Tell me who's gonna be your man lord, lord
Tell me who's gonna be yo' man?

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 lips
And you know I don't need no man lord, lord
No I don't need no man
You know I don't need no man lord, lord
No I don't need no man"

Then they take John Henry to the White House
And they buried him in the sand
And every locomotive comes a-rollin' by
Says, "Dere lies dat steel drivin' man lord, lord
Dere lies dat steel drivin' man" (Yeah)