Capo 4 
 
Intro - G5 D5 G5 C5 G5 D5 G5 
 
Verse:       G5           D5            G5 
       I was born with a hammer in my hand 
                                                C5 
       It's the kind of life I doubt you'd understand 
           G5 
       I'd give anything just to hear the cold steel ring 
                               D5 
       Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand 
 
       Swingin' steel's the only life I've known 

       I've never been afraid to be alone 

       Hope my Mama understands I'll always be a working man 

       Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand 
 
       John Henry was a steel-drivin' man 

       You could hear his hammer ring across the land 

       But before the steam drill came, John Henry knew my name 

       Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand 
 
       The bossman tries to break a good man's back 

       It takes thirty men to lay eight miles of track 

       If the shaker holds the line, they'll be thirty miles behind me 

       I was born with a hammer in my hand 
 
       John Henry was a steel drivin' man 

       You could hear his hammer ring across the land 

       But if you put us side by side, he'd have to run and hide 

       Cause I was born with a hammer in my hand 
 

                           D5            G5 
       Yes I'll die with a hammer in my hand