Well, when John Henry died, he lay lookin' at the sun

He said "Lord, take me now my work is done", Lord, Lord

"Lord, take me now my work is done"

Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy

They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord

Laid that hammer by his side



Yeah, and Joe Hill, he'd work any job he could find, boy

He'd rake your leaves and pick your vine, Lord, Lord

Rake your leaves and pick your vine

Yeah and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name

But that bullet made a martyr of the slain, Lord, Lord

Bullet made a martyr of the slain



Yeah, and my grandaddy worked his whole damn life

Well, he never saved a nickel though he tried, Lord, Lord

Never saved a nickel though he tried

And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest

With that long road to Texas lie ahead, Lord, Lord

That long road to Texas lie ahead



Yessir, I ain't no great man, and Lord I expect

To see a long life workin' in your debt, Lord, Lord 

A long life workin' in your debt



They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry 

They killed John Henry, but they won't kill me, Lord

They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry

They killed John Henry, but they won't kill me