JANUARY 2010
Download: Take_This_Hammer.mp3
I recorded this on the Crystal Serenity ocean liner on the way to Lisbon Portugal last June. Kompoz.com contacted me asking for a song to use in their contest. I provided 7 tracks for contestants to download. This was the winner, a gospel version with wonderful piano and vocal backing!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“Take This Hammer” (Roud 4299) is a prison work song. It was collected by John and Alan Lomax. The song “Nine Pound Hammer” has a few phrases in common with this song, and the same Roud number. “Swannanoa Tunnel” is similar, and this group of songs are referred to as ‘hammer songs’ or ‘roll songs’. According to the Columbia State University, the earliest collected version was made by Newman Ivey White in 1915.
Lyrics
[G] Take this hammer, carry it to the [D] captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the [G] captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the [C] captain
Tell him I’m [G] gone, great [D] God tell him I’m [G] gone
If he ask you was I laughing?
If he ask you was I laughing?
If he ask you was I laughing?
Tell him I’m crying, great God tell him I’m crying
If he ask you was I walking
If he ask you was I walking
IIf he ask you was I walking
Tell him I’m running, great God tell him I’m running
Don’t want no more your cornbread and molasses
Don’t want no more your cornbread and molasses
Don’t want no more your cornbread and molasses
Hurts my pride, great God It hurts my pride.
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Tell him I’m gone, great God tell him I’m gone
(c) 2010
Roger McGuinn - McGuinn Music (BMI)
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