Wake Up Dead Man - Hammer Ring (work song in a Texas prison,1965)

Bruce Jackson's 1994 album notes for the CD release of his recordings of work songs in a Texas prison.

This album of powerful work songs was recorded in Texas prisons in the middle 1960s and offers a look at a tradition now pretty much defunct, though one that served real needs and functions for black prisoners until recent times. Worksongs helped give comfort to prisoners and indeed helped them to survive the grueling work demanded of them. This record is a companion to the book of the same title, originally published by Harvard University Press and now republished by the University of Georgia Press.

Lyrics:

I'm goin' down to the bottom*, let your hammer ring... (2x)
A-just to ring my hammer*...
I got a nine-pound hammer...
I'm gonna ring it in the bottom...
Well my partner's got worried...
I can't hear my partner's holler...
I'm gonna call a little louder...
I'm goin' down to the Braley [Brazos]*...
Oh just to cool my hammer...
Oh well I believe I call baby...
Oh well my baby's Evalina...
Oh Evalina I call you...
I got a letter from baby...
'Cause well my baby's Elnora...
'Cause well I believe I spied [the] rider*...
Oh well who was [the] rider...
Oh well he rode 'em on the Brazos...
Oh Jack O Diamonds [was] a ruler...
A well he drove 'em on the Brazos...
A well butt-cut* crackin'*...
You better watch-a my timber...
'Cause there won't be no more jackin'*...
Why don't you bring me a drink a water...
Oh well a pull-do* can't hold 'em...
A he's a number one driver...
I don't believe he can hold 'em...
Why don't you drop 'em down together...
I'm gonna cool my hammer...
Oh well my partner's got worried...
Oh well he worried about his baby...
I can't hear nobody holler...
Oh well drop 'em down together...
I'm gonna cross the big Brazos...
(shouted: Timber gettin' limber!)
Oh just to cool my hammer...
Oh Black Betty's* in the bottom...
Why don't you call a little louder...
Oh Evalina, Evalina...
(spoken: Jack, jack it off!* You're not goin' burn down...Rollin' it up here*

[timmyles]

THIS is VERY ADDICTIVE... I like this sound...part gospel and part blues

[monajulie]

Theyre voices are so strong and beautiful but very sad.♥️🖤

[muchwow]

Anyone who ever worked his ass off to the point of not being able to return home because your legs wont work anymore can feel something in this song

[joebob]

Just a note to all: This song/work cadence was still called out way into the 1980's. Thank you for posting this. I haven't heard this in a very long time. Brings back a lot of memories.

[larrycancooke]

The power of call and can lock your soul in....Even laying in your bunk....your soul and body would respond to this gospel....Cooke

[LoneTinaja]

If anyone reading this was an inmate at Retrieve farm in
Brazoria County, please respond. I would like to ask you
some questions. From '63 to the early '70s I spent a lot
of time at Retrieve where my father provided contractor
service. I also worked there as a guard during 2 summer
breaks from college. I haven't spoken with any Retrieve
inmates since then. If you were an inmate during that
era, or even later, I am very interested in knowing your
memories of some things. Thanks.

[jonathanbaymon]

I just cant stop listen to it like i was there singing

[tizwa]

Hi, my english is very bad, i dont understand the lyrics but this is talking to my

[justforever]

When he refers to "my partner got worried", he may be referring to the "shaker" (as referred to in John Henry), who held and turned the rock drill while the hammer driver hit the drill. Although some of the other lyrics suggest maybe splitting rails or something. Interesting.

[gowithgroove]

I'm sure they could track these guys down and give 'em a royalty check! If they've been released from prison, they were probably tracked for parole, or may well have remained locked up, or been locked up again... it can't be as heard as keeping track of Axl Rose, and I'm sure he gets his money...

[SergeiTheAnarch]

Great song to work to. Reminds me that I don't have to be out in the heat chopping down trees or driving rail spikes.

[MrTheevilmage]

I sing this when I excavate on archaeology digs some days when I'm out in the field

[dmmgk]

I'm from Brazil and here we have something similar, which is the slaves' song that they sang on the farm or while working in the mines. Pure African heritage juice

[robdani]

The fact that they are singing so good and for so long while literally simultaneously chopping at a tree is actually pretty amazing.

[josephsolowyk]

I'm not black or american but this hits my soul.

[milascave]

I catch bits of Lead Belly lyrics in these prison work songs, refrences to "Black Betty" and "Jumpin little Judy." I suppose I should not be surprised.

[byronsaeed]

VERY POWERFUL SONG RIGHT NOW I FEEL IT

[juleswoodbury]

working as a roofer... when you don't have the strength to open your bottle of beer after work.

[trey]

Does anybody else listen to work songs while working

[WhistlePig]

Heard this one digging hand line on a fire with a con crew. Those guys could cook too