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Well, when John Henry died he lay lookin' at the sun
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He said Lord, take me now my work is done, Lord, Lord
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Lord take me now my work is done
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Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy
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They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord
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Laid that hammer by his side
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Yeah, and Joe Hill he worked any job he could find, boy
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He'd rake your leaves and pick your vine, Lord, Lord
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Rake your leaves and pick your vine
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Yeah, and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name
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But that bullet made a martyr of the same, Lord, Lord
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Bullet made a martyr of the same
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Yeah, and my grand daddy worked his whole damn life
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Well, he never saved a nickel though he tried, Lord, Lord
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Never saved a nickel though he tried
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And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest
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With that long road to Texas lyin' ahead, Lord Lord
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Long road to Texas lyin' ahead
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Yes sir, I ain't no great man and Lord I expect to see
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A long life, a workin' and you're dead, Lord, Lord
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A long life, a workin' and you're dead
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They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry
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They killed John Henry but they won't kill me
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Lord, they killed John Henry, they killed John Henry
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They killed John Henry but they won't kill me
Written by Justin Townes Earle