Capo 4 
 
Intro - G D G C G D G 
 
Verse:       G           D            G 
       I was born with a hammer in my hand 
                                                C 
       It's the kind of life I doubt you'd understand 
           G 
       I'd give anything just to hear the cold steel ring 
                               D 
       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 
 
                           D            G 
       Yes I'll die with a hammer in my hand