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
