Take This Hammer - Lyrics - Odetta

Odetta Holmes , known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals. An important figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, she was influential to many of the key figures of the folk-revival of that time, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin. Time included her song "Take This Hammer" on its list of the All-Time 100 Songs, stating that "Rosa Parks was her No. 1 fan, and Martin Luther King Jr. called her the queen of American folk music."

Ah you can take this hammer, carry it to the captain Ah you can take this hammer, carry it to the captain Ah you can take this hammer, carry it to the captain Tell him I'm gone, boys Tell him I'm gone. I don't want these your cold iron shackles I don't want these your cold iron shackles I don't want these your cold iron shackles Around my leg, boys Around my leg If he ask you, was I running if he ask you, was I running if he ask you, was I running Tell him I'm flyin', boys Tell him I'm flyin' If he ask you, was I laughing if he ask you, was I laughing if he ask you, was I laughing Tell him I'm cryin', boys Tell him I'm cryin' I don't want your corn bread and molasses I don't want your corn bread and molasses I don't want your corn bread and molasses It's my pride, boys It's my pride Take this hammer, carry it to the captain Take this hammer, carry it to the captain Take this hammer, carry it to the captain Tell him I'm gone, boys Tell him I'm gone