While crosscutting trees, prisoners, led by Chinaman, sing: DOWN THE LINE [1]
Down the Line [2]
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
I got a lead on row [3], for you and
Down the Line
I got a lead on row, for us and
Down the Line
What mother hated was a lonely driver
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
I got a timber ready for you can
Down the Line
I got a timber ready, so you can
Down the Line
Big lumber in the line for you
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
I want to come alone brother, and we can
Down the Line
I want to come alone brother, and we can
Down the Line
Come alone a-with your driver and we can
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
Oh, a pull-do [4] can't hold 'em, we can
Down the Line
Oh, a pull-do can't hold me, we can
Down the Line
Well, a pull-do can't hold me, we can
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
Well, I got a hammer, we can
Down the Line
Wel,l I got a hammer, we can
Down the Line
Watch my hammer ringin' on so we can
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver.
Down the Line
If you cut down a timber, you can
Down the Line
If you cut down a timber, you can
Down the Line
Let your timber get alone so we can
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
Would you help me holler? We can
Down the Line
Would you help me holler? We can
Down the Line
Help me holler in the right, so we can
Down the Line
It takes a number one driver
Down the Line
It looks like a thing when we can
Down the Line
Down the Line
Anonymous
Notes
[1] Down the Line: This flatweeding* song seems to derive from a well-known crosscutting song, "Plumb the Line." Both may derive from a spiritual, "Plumb the Line," versions of which are found in Lydia Parrish, Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands (New York, 1942), 67-70, and Harold Courlander, Negro Songs from Alabama, 2nd. ed (New York, 1963), 55.
* Flatweeding is the Texas convict term for any kind of work done with a hoe — building roads, busting clods after a tractor has gone through and turned up dry ground, turning turf, cleaning ditches, chopping cotton. As the prison system acquired more machinery, less work was done with hoes; they are still used for chopping cotton and getting into places too tight for the machines. Because of the length of the hoe and the resulting long arc of travel, these are the slowest of the worksongs, and of the three kinds so far mentioned, tend to be the most complex lyrically and melodically
[2] Line: The groups of men crosscutting or flatweeding.
[3] Lead Row: First man in the squad, usually the best worker.
[4] Pull-do: An incompetent worker, someone who makes too many mistakes.
Fonte delle note:
Wake Up Dead Man Audio Recording
https://www.folkstreams.net/contexts/wake-up-dead-man-audio-recording
[1] Down the Line: This flatweeding* song seems to derive from a well-known crosscutting song, "Plumb the Line." Both may derive from a spiritual, "Plumb the Line," versions of which are found in Lydia Parrish, Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands (New York, 1942), 67-70, and Harold Courlander, Negro Songs from Alabama, 2nd. ed (New York, 1963), 55.
* Flatweeding is the Texas convict term for any kind of work done with a hoe — building roads, busting clods after a tractor has gone through and turned up dry ground, turning turf, cleaning ditches, chopping cotton. As the prison system acquired more machinery, less work was done with hoes; they are still used for chopping cotton and getting into places too tight for the machines. Because of the length of the hoe and the resulting long arc of travel, these are the slowest of the worksongs, and of the three kinds so far mentioned, tend to be the most complex lyrically and melodically
[2] Line: The groups of men crosscutting or flatweeding.
[3] Lead Row: First man in the squad, usually the best worker.
[4] Pull-do: An incompetent worker, someone who makes too many mistakes.
Fonte delle note:
Wake Up Dead Man Audio Recording
https://www.folkstreams.net/contexts/wake-up-dead-man-audio-recording
Contributed by Pluck - 2026/5/12 - 19:34
×
![]()
Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.
La clip inizia al minuto 03:20 del film e dura 3 minuti ca.
Fonte del film:
Folkstreams
Afro-American Work Songs in a Texas Prison 1966
© Folklore Research Films, Inc, March 1966
29mins, Black & White
Fonte del testo:
Afro-American Work Songs, Transcription with notes