This is taken from a Dave Van Ronk album. If you haven't listened to him, go get some. Does John Hurt, Scrapper Blackwell, Bessie Smith, Lonnie Johnson, Gary Davis, etc.
On Spike Driver, he does it pretty much like John Hurt except he back picks the bass - 4-6-4-6 instead of 6-4-6-4 as on the original.
Spike Drivers Moan-Mississippi John Hurt

SPIKE DRIVER BLUES
(Mississippi John Hurt)

This Old Hammer, it killed John Henry
Well it won't kill me, no it won't kill me
Well this old hammer, it killed John Henry
Well it won't kill me, it won't kill me

John Henry left his hammer lying there,
By the side of the road, by the side of the road
John Henry left his hammer lying there,
By the side of the road, in the drizzling rain

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain,
Tell him I'm gone, I'm surely gone.
Take this hammer and carry it to the captain,
Tell him gone, I'm surely gone.

Tied a rainbow around my shoulder,
Well it shines, it shines like gold.
Tied a rainbow around my shoulder,
It shines like gold, yes it shines like gold.

Take this hammer and throw it in the river,
It'll ring right on, it'll ring right on.
Take this hammer and throw it in the river,
It'll ring right on, it'll ring right on.

Repeat 1st verse.