Spied that steel-drivin’ man.

John Henry’s wife settin’ on do’-step cryin’,

Say, “Where po’ John Henry gone?”

John Henry’s wife settin’ on do’-step cryin’,

Say, “Where po’ John Henry gone?”

John Henry’s wife said to his chillun,

“Little chillun, don’t you worry none,

’Cause mama goin’ down to steel-drivin’ place

Where po’ daddy done gone.”

Children come runnin’ and cryin’,