Ladder Climbing Man

I grew up watching a ladder-climbing man
Through the heat and through the sleet he always finished what he began
All his work was done with a shake of his hand
He'll keep climbing ladders if there's a demand
He never did work at them textile mills
Or blasted in the quarries up in New England hills
So when the land was emptied, and the work went away
He kept climbing ladders and made his own pay
Climb your own ladder
Away from John Henry's hammer
I wake up most mornings, my body still beat
But I won't take a day off till I stand on my own feet
I hope that one day I will find myself free
From John Henry's hammer down in Tennessee
Climb your own ladder
Away from John Henry's hammer
Climb your own ladder
Away from John Henry's hammer