John Henry The Gambler - Willie P. Bennett
When John Henry was a little baby
He was sitting on his mama's knee
He said a steel driving man
Was what you had planned
But gambling's going to be the death of me, ma
Yes a gambler's the best that I might be
Well his mama turned to John Henry
Said please don't roam the streets
Stay at home on the farm
Where you won't find no harm
If you leave it'll be the death of me, boy
If you leave it'll be the death of me
Well John Henry roamed to the city
And many games he gambled there
Until he shot a man one day
Down old Kentucky way
He'll be running from his dying day, boys
He'll be running from the weight of his ways
Well the moral of this story
Is easy for you to see
John Henry's laying six feet down
In the cold, cold cold ground
He ended up the same as you or me boys
Yea, he ended up the same as you or me