a US folk song about a strong African American who built railway tracks. It was originally sung by African Americans. John Henry was ‘a steel-driving man’ who could crush more rocks than a machine. Part of the song is:
John Henry said to his captain,
‘A man ain’t nothin’ but a man,
And before I’d let your steam drill beat me down,
I’d die with the hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord!
I’d die with the hammer in my hand.’