Van Morrison - John Henry: Ukulele Chords

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

Learn John Henry ukulele chords and lyrics

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the ukulele chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "John Henry" smoothly on your ukulele.

           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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Ukulele Chord Diagrams

A

Ukulele chord A

D

Ukulele chord D

E

Ukulele chord E

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each ukulele 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 guitar, check out the chords on our sister site: Guitar Chords for "John Henry" by Van Morrison.

Van Morrison Song List