Chorus:
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain ( x3 )
Tell him I'm a-gone, just tell him I'm a gone
If he asks you, was I running ( x3 )
Tell him I was flying, tell him I was flying
If he asks you, was I laughing ( x3 )
Tell him I was crying, tell him I was crying
I don't want these your cold iron shackles ( x3 )
It hurts my leg, well it hurts my leg
Captain, captain, this old hammer's too heavy ( x3 )
For the likes of man, for the likes of man
Must be the hammer that killed John Henry ( x3 )
But it won't kill me, no it won't kill me
Verse & Chorus:
| I | V | V | I |
| I | IV | I – V | I |
Extra verses:
I don't want your greenback dollars
It hurts my pride, lord, it hurts my pride
I don't want no cornbread and molasses
It hurts my pride, it hurts my pride
Tell the captain I was headed for the river
Tell him I swim, tell him I swim
This old hammer it shines like silver
But it rings like gold, it rings like gold
Dont' you make me wear these old cold shackles
'Cause they wound my soul, lord they wound my soul
I'm comin' to that Jordan water
Don't let me drown, don't let me drown