-6 -7 -8 -7 -6 -7 -8 -8 When John Henry was a lil ba-by -6 -7 -8 -8 -8 8 -7 -6 A-sitting on his papa's knee -6 -7 -8 -8 -8 -7 He picked up a hammer -6 -5 -7 -6 -5 -4 and a l'il piece of steel 5 -4 -5 -5 -4 3 -3 -4 -5 Said "Hammer's gonna be the death of me, -5 -4 -3 -4 -5 -4 3 -3 -4 -4 Lawd, lawd, Hammer's gonna be the death of me