Say, “Give me a heavy axe,
Let me tear dis ol’ mountain down.”
John Henry told the captain,
“Cap’n, when you go to town,
Bring me back a ten-poun’ hammer
An’ I lay dis ol’ sev’n-poun’ down.”
John Henry went to captain,
“What mo’ you want me to have?
Say, han’ me drink o’ ol’ white gin,
An’ I’ll be a steel-drivin’ man.”