[Intro]
A
A
A D A
A D A F#m
A E A
[Verse 1]
A
John Henry was a steel drivin' man
A
John Henry was a steel drivin' man
A D A
He died in West Virginia with his hammer in his hand
A D A F#m
They sing about him all across land
A E A
John Henry was a steel drivin' man
[Verse 2]
A
He beat the steam drill down and then he died
A
He beat the steam drill down and then he died
A D A
And it didn't change nothin' but heaven knows he tried
A D A F#m
He was buried with his hammer by his side
A E A
He beat the steam drill down and then he died
[Instrumental]
A
A
A D A
A D A F#m
A E A
[Verse 3]
A
There's coal beneath the mountain down below
A
There's coal beneath the mountain down below
A
And the company come to take it
D A
But the work was hard and slow
A D A F#m
Said well there ain't no money in it, we'll just go
A E A
Alright, there's coal beneath the mountain down below
[Verse 4]
A
And the union come and tried to make a stand
A
The union come and tried to make a stand
A D A
And West Virginia miners voted union to a man
A D A F#m
You'd never know it now but that was then
A E A
When the union come and tried to make a stand
[Verse 5]
A
But the company brought in all the big machines
A
The company brought in all the big machines
A
Cut more coal in an hour
D A
Than a shift could in a week
A D A F#m
John Henry could've told them what that means
A E A
When the company brought in all the big machines, hey
[Instrumental]
A
A
A D A
A D A F#m
A E A
[Verse 6]
A
John Henry was a steel drivin' man
A
John Henry was a steel drivin' man
A
He died in West Virginia
D A
With his hammer in his hand
A D A F#m
They sing about him all across land
A E A E A
John Henry was a steel drivin' man