John Henry Was A Steel Drivin Man chords by Steve Earle

• Capo on 2nd

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

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