On His Bones
[MEN]
So rise you up and shout Gloriana!
For I'm gonna sing the fame
Of a cold-steel driver on a tunnel-bustin' gang
And John Henry was that steel-driver's name
Great God!
John Henry was that big man's name—
[MEN & WOMEN]
Beat that engine down by the skin of his bones
Paved the road to freedom with his bones
We're travelin' now to freedom on his bones, on his bones
Travelin' to freedom on his bones!