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Let Your Hammer Ring

Anonymous
Language: English




PRISON WORKSONGS
Recorded by Dr. Harry Oster at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, La. and other locations, mostly in 1959

Let Your Hammer Ring,
Big Louisiana, lead; Willy Rafus, and Arthur Davis.

Prison Songs

Originally this song accompanied the driving of spikes into the wooden ties which held railroad tracks in place. The basic tool was a ten-pound hammer with two heads, hardly more than two inches in diameter. The steel-driving man swung freely in a complete circle about his head, then brought the hammer unerringly down on the spike. Since the railroad's disappearance at Angola, the same song has often been sung, as it is here, to facilitate wood-chopping. Unlike many of the group worksongs, "Let Your Hammer Ring" has artistic unity. The subject in this magnificent song swings naturally from the ring of the hammer to ringing a plea to the governor for pardon; the desire for a pardon leads logically to thoughts of Berta and a picture of her pleading to the judge for her man; with the singer now in prison, the next feeling is a fear that she will find another lover, then a fear that she doesn't love him anymore, that she may not even know him anymore, surprising since he had the prowess to carry off the captain's watch and chain (a most unlikely crime), and finally there is a coda to the song; the hammer is on fire, like the singer himself

*****
© &® 1959& 1997 by Arhoolie Productions, Inc.
ARHOOLIE cd 448

Testo e nota da :
PRISON WORKSONGS
Smithsonian Institution
Ring 'em all together,
Group: Let yo' hammer ring.
Ring 'em all all together,
Group: Let yo' hammer ring.
Well, I ring for the governor.

We got to ring 'im all day long.
We got to ring 'im all day long.
Well, I believe I'm double jointed, boy
Well, I believe I'm double jointed, boy.

Well, I'm loaded from my right arm.
Well, I'm loaded from my right arm.
Well, they call me john Henry, boy.
Well, they call me john Henry, boy.

Well, don't you be scared boys.
Well, you know it's nothin' but my hammer.

Well my hammer's in the wind boys.
Well I'm ringin' for the governor, boys

Well, governor, don't you hear me.
Well, I wants to go home, boys.

Well, governor promise to pardon me.

Well, governor won't you hear me.

Well I believe I spied Berta.
In my midnight dream, boys.

She standin' ahead of my bedside.
In a nicklegee (negligee).

Well I left my woman.
She's in the courthouse cryin' boys.

"Well, judge, can't you help my man."
Well I'm going away to leave you, gal
But I'll be back home, gal.

Don't you let nobody,
Tear my playhouse down, gal.

Well, Berta, don't you love me gal?
Well, I'm done gone crazy, gal.

Well, gal, don't you know me now?
I'm the same grand rascal,
I stole the captain's watch and chain, gal.

Oh let your hammer ring, boy.
Oh well my hammer's on fire , boy.

Well, waterboy come, boy, waterboy.
Well, waterboy come, boy, waterboy.
Well, waterboy come, boy, waterboy.
Well, waterboy come, boy, waterboy.

Won't you let me catch my wind now boys.
Because I'm done gone balmy.

We got to walk all day long.
Let your hammer ring.

Well I rung for the major, boys.
Well I rung for the major, boys.
Well I rung for the major, boys.
Well I rung for the major, boys.

Well captain, don't you know me?
Won't you let me catch my wind.

Spoken: Done burned out! Waterboy!

Contributed by Pluck - 2024/3/19 - 18:55




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