I learned this song a long time ago and have never found it in print anywhere. I believe it was sung by Paul Robeson though I've not found any recording of him singing it. As soon as I find time, I'll submit the melody as well.- Mark
SONG OF MY HANDS
lead in tag line -- "This is a song about working hands".
C F^^
A lover sings of his own true love,
C G7
A sailor sings of the sea,
C F
What have I to be singing of,
C G7
But of my only property,
C G7 C
I'll sing you a song of my hands.
C F
Hear the call of the midnight train,
C G7
Echoin' down in the mine,
C F
The hiss of the steel and the grind of the crane,
C G7
The rumble of an assembly line,
C G7 C
That is the song of my hands.
Am Dm
I'll tell you why of my hands I sing,
Am E7 Am
My children eat what my hands can bring.
Am Dm
When towers of steel rose from barren plains,
Am E7
Did you see my hands workin' there,
Am Dm
Amid your factories, your trucks and cranes,
C F G7
We laid stone upon stone upon stone in the air,
C G7 C
And on top of the job were my hands.
(stay in major)
My two hands they're my take home pay,
They're how much milk at my door,
How many pounds may my children weigh,
How did you figure the price before,
What will you pay for my hands.
(shift to rel minor as before)
My hands are for sale, what will you give,
What will you give that my children might live.
What is the value of my two hands,
Appraise them as you've done before,
They built your factories, tilled your lands,
They've made you riches and they'll make more,
What will you pay for my hands.
Am Dm
Calculate carefully, ponder it well,
Am E7
And remember this when you do,
Am Dm
My two hands they are mine to sell,
C F G7
They built your machines they can stop them too,
C G7 C
That is the power of my hands.
C F
My two hands they are mighty hands,
C F C
They're strong, they're brave and they're free,
Am Dm
In all the world there's no man,
Am E7 Am
Can bind them in slavery.
Am Dm
My hands are for sale, what will you give,
Am E7 Am
What will you give that my children might live.Click to play