I think that in the last verse, line 3, it could be: Had by his wife, here's the words that she said. In this case, this would be the text (and a lot of thanks to Mick and Stewie):

John Henry was a li'l baby boy
Settin' on his mama's knee
Had a nine-pound hammer holded his arms:
Gonna be the death of me, O partner
Gonna be the death of me
Gonna be the death of me
Gonna be the death of me

John Henry went to that Big Bend Tunnel
See if he could git a job
John Henry was so small and that rock was so tall
Laid down his hammer and he cried, O partner
Laid down his hammer and he cried
Laid down his hammer and he cried, O partner
Laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry told to his shaker
Said, Shaker did you ever pray?
Cause if I miss this piece of steel
Tomorrow be your buryin' day
Tomorrow be your buryin' day
Tomorrow be your buryin' day, O captain
Tomorrow be your buryin' day

Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet?
Who's gonna glove your li'l hand?
Who's gonna kiss your rosy li'l cheeks, when
I'm in a distant land? – (Ah mm-mm)
I'm in a distant land
I'm in a distant land, O captain (Mm-mm)
I'm in a distant land

John Henry took sick and went to bed
Sent for a doctor and in he come
Took a chair down the side of John Henry's bed, says:
You sick and can't get well
Sick and can't get well
Sick and can't get well
Sick and can't get well

Car'd John Henry to the White House
Buried him in the sand
Had by his wife, here's the words that she said:
Here lays my steel-drivin' man, O partner
Here lays my steel-drivin' man