Lyr Req: Water Boy (from Paul Robeson)

Subject: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: JedMarum
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 02:19 PM

My Dad used to sing this song, or at least part this song. It has a beautiful melody and the lyric I remember says;

There ain't no hammer
upon this mountain
That ring a' like my boy
That ring a' like my ...

Does anyone know the song? Where'd it come from? What are the rest of the lyrics?

Subject: Lyr Add: NINE POUND HAMMER (Merle Travis)
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 02:27 PM

The song is NINE POUND HAMMER (Merle Travis)

Chorus
Well this nine-pound hammer, it's a little too heavy for my size, for my size.
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow, 'said how can I roll, when the wheels won't go.

It's a long way to Harlin, long way to Hazard just to get a little brew, get a little brew, get a little brew.

(Repeat)Chorus

This old hammer it rings like silver, shines like gold, shines like gold, shines like gold.

(Repeat)Chorus

If I'd known that captain was blind, I'da been long, long gone from this line.

(Repeat)Chorus add your verse where you like.

Cheers, Forunato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 02:31 PM

liam,

also merle sang "rings like mine, boys, rings like mine" in the verse you mention.

Harlin and Hazard are located in the coal mining area of Kentucky.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: JedMarum
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 02:34 PM

fortunato - thanks. I'll look it up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: Stewie
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 08:06 PM

The lines, or very similar, are floaters that occur in numerous songs. For example, Bascom Lamar Lunsford's beautiful version of 'Swannanoa Tunnel':

Ain't no hammer in this mountain Outrings mine, baby Outrings mine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: Hotspur
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 09:48 PM

I have a recording of Paul Robeson singing this, he had the verses:

There ain't no hammer that's on this mountain
That ring like mine boys, that ring like mine
Done bust this rock boys, from here to Macon
All the way to the jail, boys, yes on back to the jail

You Jack O' Diamonds, you Jack O' Diamonds
I know you are bold, boy, yes I know you are bold
You rob my pocket, yes you rob my pocket
You rob my pocket of silver and gold.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: JedMarum
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 11:55 AM

from the sounds of the lyric, I suspect my dad would be singing the Paul Robeson version. Any idea where I find a recording of it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: GUEST,jed marum
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 08:49 AM

does anyone remember if the Paul Robeson version of this song starts out with a verse that says, "Water boy, where are you hiding? If you don't come out I's gwine to tell your Mammy."

Subject: Lyr Add: WATER BOY
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 11:18 AM

WATER BOY

Water boy, where are you hiding,
If you don't come I'm going to tell your mommy

There ain't no hammer that's on this mountain
That rings like mine, boys, that rings like mine
I done bust this rock, boys, from here to Macon
All the way to the jail, boys, yes back to the jail.

You Jack of Diamonds, now, you Jack of Diamonds
Well, I know you are bold, boys, yes I know you are bold
You robbed my pocket, yes you robbed my pocket
You done robbed my pocket all the silver and gold

Water boy, where are you hiding,
If you come I'm going to tell you mommy, water boy.

SOURCE: Paul Robeson: The Power and the Glory (Columbia/Legacy)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ain't no Hammer Upon this Moutain
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 11:24 AM

The last line should have been "If you don't come..."
~Masato

Subject: ADD: WATER BOY
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 02:09 PM

DT harvestors, see the above including subsequent correction.

(Masato, we change the subject line of the post when we add new material or a significant variant. People often forget-- and help each other like this.) ~S~