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

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*