Van Morrison - John Henry: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "John Henry" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

           A
When John Henry was a little baby
                        E
Sittin' on his mama's knee
         A                           D
Well he pointed out a feather and a piece of steel
                  A                   E        A
And said that's steel's gonna be the death of me
                         A                   E
Lord, Lord, Lord, that steel's gonna be the death
    A
of me

Well John Henry had a little woman
Name of Polly Ann
Well John got sick, had to lay down on the bed
You all know, Polly drove steel like a man
Lord, Lord, Lord, Polly drove steel like a man
(That's true)

John...

Well, John Henry went up on the mountain
Well, the mountain was sinkin' in
He said, come on captain, I know what I'm doin'
It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Lord, it ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind

Well John Henry went up on the mountain
Lord, the mountain was so high
He said we're gonna shake this steel drivin' down
Give me a cool drink of water before I die
Lord, Lord, give me a cool drink of water before
I die, that's right

Well some say that he came from England
Some say that he came from Spain
But John Henry well ain't nothin' but a Louisiana
man
And he died with his hammer in his hand
Lord, Lord, he died with his hammer in his hand
Lord, Lord, Lord, he died with his hammer in his
hand
Lord, Lord, Lord, he died with his hammer
Died with his hammer
Died with his hammer in his hand
Yeah, he died with his hammer
Died with his hammer
Died with his hammer in his hand
Lord, Lord, Lord he died with his hammer
Steel drivin' man
He died with his hammer in his hand
Play it one time...

Lord, it ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Ah, It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Lord knows, it ain't nothin' but my hammer
Nothin' by my hammer
It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Lord, it ain't nothin' but my hammer
Nothin' but my hammer
It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Yeah, it ain't nothin', nothin' but my hammer
Nothin' but my hammer
Lord, it ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Lord, Lord, it ain't nothin' but my hammer
No, no, no, nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
I swear it ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Lord, Lord, suckin' wind

A-suckin' wind - x11


Ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind
Lord, it ain't nothin' but my hammer a-suckin'
wind, yeah yeah

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

D

Guitar chord D

E

Guitar chord E

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "John Henry" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "John Henry" by Van Morrison.

Van Morrison Song List