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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Paul Robeson
Author: Avery Robinson
Label: Victor
Year: 1926
Traditional worksong arranged by Avery Robinson, who picked it up from black chaingangers in Alabama. Being white he first gave it to black tenor Roland Hayes, who apparantly never recorded it.
Covers:
Fats Waller [on organ]
Earl Hines [vocal: Billy Eckstine]
Don Shirley Trio [after 1'40" the melody line becomes a blueprint for the tune of Put Your Hand In The Hand (see there)]
Many floating verses in the lyrics. The line "there ain't no hammer that's on this mountain, That rings like mine" comes back in Nine Pound Hammer / Spike Driver Blues (Take This Hammer) (see there). Jimmie Strothers' version of Take This Hammer even uses the melody line of Water Boy.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)