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 Joe Hill, he worked 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 same,
Lord, Lord?that bullet made a martyr of the same
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 lyin' ahead, Lord Lord,
that long road to Texas lyin' ahead
Yessir, I ain't no great man, and Lord I expect to lead
A long life a workin' and you're dead, Lord, Lord
A long life a workin' and you're dead?
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.