John Henry

John Henry

John Henry

Doc Watson Merle Travis

Chords you’ll need to know

A A7 C D G G7

Chord Chart

Chart options

Lyrics

John Henry was a steel-driving man Drove steel all over the land And he said, Fool I let that old steam drill beat me down I'll die with my hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord I'll die with my hammer in my hand Now the man that played that old steam drill He pilot mighty fine But John Henry drove down fourteen feet While that steam drill only made it nine, Lord, Lord Steam drill only made it nine John Henry's captain he said, I'm on a rock He said, I think this tunnel's falling in Then John Henry smiled at his captain and he said Now boss that's my hammer sucking wind, Lord, Lord Boss, that's my hammer sucking wind John Henry he had a sweet little woman Her name was Polly Anne And while John he was sick and he laid down on his bed Little Polly drove that steel like a man, Lord, Lord Polly drove that steel like a man John Henry hammered in the mountainside Till his hammer caught on fire And the last word that poor John Henry said Give me a cool drink of water before I die, Lord, Lord Cool drink of water before I die They took John Henry to the graveyard Six feet under the sand And every time a freight train would come a-rollin' by They say, Yonder lies a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord Yonder lies a steel-driving man

Demo Videos

Bluegrass demo

Bluegrass demo
Bluegrass demo

Bluegrass demo
Bluegrass demo

Bluegrass demo
Bluegrass demo

Bluegrass demo

Instrument Lessons

John Henry - Guitar Lesson - 2 Arrangements

John Henry - Guitar Lesson - 2 Arrangements

Music With Ryan
John Henry Mandolin Lesson–Two Solos!

John Henry Mandolin Lesson–Two Solos!

Banjo Ben Clark
Basic & Intermediate John Henry for Banjo!

Basic & Intermediate John Henry for Banjo!

Banjo Ben Clark
John Henry in G, C, D and F - Bluegrass Banjo Lesson

John Henry in G, C, D and F - Bluegrass Banjo Lesson

Eli Gilbert Banjo
Learn to Play - John Henry in D Tuning - Bluegrass Banjo

Learn to Play - John Henry in D Tuning - Bluegrass Banjo

Jim Pankey
Learn to Play - John Henry in G - Bluegrass #banjo

Learn to Play - John Henry in G - Bluegrass #banjo

Jim Pankey
How to play "John Henry" - Billy Strings - Guitar Lesson with Tab

How to play "John Henry" - Billy Strings - Guitar Lesson with Tab

B-RoM
How to Play // John Henry // Bluegrass Banjo Lesson

How to Play // John Henry // Bluegrass Banjo Lesson

Big Red Music
John Henry | Beginner Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson With Tab

John Henry | Beginner Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson With Tab

Mike Hedding
John Henry (Up-The-Neck) | Intermediate Bluegrass Banjo Lesson With Tab

John Henry (Up-The-Neck) | Intermediate Bluegrass Banjo Lesson With Tab

Mike Hedding
John Henry | Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Lesson With Tab

John Henry | Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Lesson With Tab

Mike Hedding

About This Song

John Henry is one of America's most enduring folk ballads, telling the tragic story of a steel-driving man who raced against a steam drill. Doc Watson's powerful flatpicking version became definitive in bluegrass, though the song has been recorded by countless artists across genres since the late 1800s.