Mama gonna kiss yo’ rose-red lips,

John Henry gonna be yo’ man,

Lawd, John Henry gonna be yo’ man.”

“Where you get them high top shoes,

That dress you wear so fine?”

“Got my shoes from a railroad man,

My dress from a worker in mine,

Lawd, my dress from worker in mine.”

John Henry said to his captain,

“Man is nothin’ but a man,