If you wants to see de Devil fall,
Hit him wid de Gospel ball.
If you wants to see de Devil beg,
Nail him wid a Gospel peg.
If you wants to see de Devil sick,
Beat him wid a Gospel stick.
If you wants to see de Devil die,
Feed him up on Gospel pie.
But de Devil w'ars dat iron shoe,
An' if you don't watch, he'll slip it on you.
JOHN HENRY
John Henry, he wus a steel-drivin' man.
He died wid his hammer in his han'.
O come long boys, an' line up de track,
For John Henry, he hain't never comin' back.
John Henry said to his Cappun: "Boss,
A man hain't nothin' but a man,
An' 'fore I'll be beat in dis sexion gang,
I'll die wid a hammer in my han'."
John Henry, he had a liddle boy,
He helt 'im in de pam of his han';
An' de las' word he say to dat chile wus:
"I wants you to be my steel-drivin' man."