Take This Hammer
Lead Belly| Original | Prison Worksongs. |
| TAKE THIS HAMMER Take dis hammer, carry it to the captain Take dis hammer, carry it to the captain Take dis hammer, carry it to the captain Tell him I'm gone Tell him I'm gone If he asks you was I runnin' If he asks you was I runnin' If he asks you was I runnin' Tell him I was flyin' Tell him I was flyin' If he asks you was I laughin' If he asks you was I laughin' If he asks you was I laughin' Tell him I was cryin' Tell him I was cryin' They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses But I got my pride, Well, I got my pride. | Take This Hammer This old hammer, most too heavy Light weight man, Lawdy, light weight man. Take this hammer, take it to the sergeant; Tell him I'm, gone, Lawdy, tell him I'm gone. If he asks you what got the matter, Had too long, Lawdy, had too long. I'm gonna roll on few days longer, I'm gonna roll on few days longer, ( I'm goin' home, Lawdy, I'm goin' home. I'm goin' home. Oh Berta, Berta gal, oh Berta, Berta gal, Early in the mornin' 'bout the break of day, Felt for my pillow where you used to lay, Felt my pillow where you used to lay. Oh Roxie, Roxie gal, Rock, me, in a rocking chair, If the chair turn over I don't bit mo' care. Bit mo' care, babe, bit mo' care. Alberta, let yo' bang grow long Alberta, let yo' bang grow long If you cry 'bout a nickel Alberta, yo'll die 'bout a dime. All I want is my regular rights, Three hard meals and my right at night. Right at night, baby, three hard meals And my rights at night. Oh Rosie, Alabama Rosie, oh Rosie, Alabama Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, don't you hear my name, Same old Rosie, down in Texas town. Texas, Texas, Texas town, Oh Berta, hello gal, Berta, Berta, If you was mine, baby, Wouldn't do nothin' but the scotch and iron Scotch and iron, wouldn't do nothin' but Few days time. |
Prison Worksong
Smithsonian Institution
https://folkways-media.si.edu › docs › ARH00448