It is the smile that is the key for reading the musical universe of Beppe G… Read Full Bio ↴It is the smile that is the key for reading the musical universe of Beppe Gambetta. An open and disarming smile that is also the contagious and irresistable smile of a person who invites you to a musical journey with light heart and curiosity. The destination, as for any traveler, is not totally defined because it is beautiful, at the very last, to find ourselves where we never would expected to be.
With the horizon's line as a challenge and attraction, Beppe is continually composing his personal mosaic of sounds and flavors. From his unique roots developing as an Italian musician in love with both American country and bluegrass as well as the music of his native country, Beppe has traveled the world and even crossed the “Iron Curtain” to dazzle and charm music enthusiasts everywhere. After ten CDs, four DVDs, four teaching books, and collaborations with many other top-flight musicians, Gambetta is increasingly known as one of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar.
While Beppe still lives in his native Genova, he travels to North America at least twice each year. His reputation in the U.S. and Canada is reinforced by his participation in prestigious festivals like the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, Merlefest in North Carolina, the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas and Canadian Folk Festivals in Winnipeg and Edmonton, as well as events like the radio shows “All Things Considered” and “E-Town”. Beppe is also featured in the movie “The Primal Twang” and has performed in prestigious rooms like the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In his career he has performed with some great heroes of the folk scene like David Grisman, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Gene Parsons, Bela Fleck and, on a regular basis, with Dan Crary and with the band Men Of Steel: an international guitar summit (Dan Crary, Tony McManus and Don Ross) of different guitar schools with complex musical interaction. In a world dominated by the trends and logic of the market Gambetta's playing and singing stand out for their intimate emotions, communication, research in tone, sobriety and humor. An inspired music that modestly avoids relying solely on his high level of technical excellence, but also reveals the innermost feelings of a brilliant, playful mind that is always firmly exploring and innovating while staying firmly routed in tradition.
With America in his heart and his roots in the sun and the olive trees of the Mediterranean sea, he naturally and seamlessly bridges the shores of the two continents, creating in spite of the interposed ocean a musical "koiné" (fusion) where country music and Ligurian tradition, emigration songs and folk ballads, mandolins and harp guitars not only co-exist but interact, weaving a deep dialog unaware of any rigid classification.
Music on its way, proud of the past but looking to the future, able to talk to us in the present because it is rooted in the history of generations of men and women so different but so equal to us. Strolling music, intolerant of frontiers and passports, exclusions and obsessions. Vital music, passionate but sober. It is waving to us. Let's follow it.

Hard Travelin'
Beppe Gambetta Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed
I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road
I've been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin'
I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord

I've been ridin' them fast rattlers, I thought you knowed
I've been ridin' them flat wheelers, way down the road
I've been ridin' them blind passengers, dead-enders, kickin' up cinders

I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord

I've been hittin' some hard-rock minin', I thought you knowed
I've been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road
Hammer flyin', air-hose suckin', six foot of mud and I shore been a muckin'
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord

I've been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed
North Dakota to Kansas City, way down the road
Cuttin' that wheat, stackin' that hay, and I'm tryin' make about a dollar a day
And I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord

I've been working that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed
I've been a dumpin' that red-hot slag, way down the road
I've been a blasting, I've been a firin', I've been a pourin' red-hot iron
I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord

I've been layin' in a hard-rock jail, I thought you knowed
I've been a laying out 90 days, way down the road
Damned old judge, he said to me, "It's 90 days for vagrancy."
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord

I've been walking that Lincoln highway, I thought you knowed,
I've been hittin' that 66, way down the road

Heavy load and a worried mind, lookin' for a woman that's hard to find,
I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord

Overall Meaning

The song "Hard Travelin'" by Beppe Gambetta is about the hardships of life on the road, and the various challenges that come with it. The singer sings about his experiences riding fast trains and hitching rides with fellow travelers who kick up dust and cinders. He also works in the coal mines, harvesting wheat, and laying steel. Through these various jobs, the singer is trying to make a living and support himself on the road.

The repetition of the phrase "hard travelin'," emphasizes the difficult nature of the singer's experience. This, combined with the vivid descriptions of his various jobs, gives the song a sense of realism and authenticity. The lyrics suggest that life on the road is not an easy one, but the singer is determined to keep going despite the challenges.

In some ways, the song can be seen as a celebration of the American spirit of perseverance and resilience. The singer is a hard worker, willing to take on any job to make ends meet. At the same time, however, the song acknowledges the struggles and difficulties that come with such a life. It is a powerful reminder that the road can be a difficult and unforgiving place, but also a place of great beauty and adventure.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed
I have been going through some rough times traveling and assumed you were aware of it.

I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road
My travel difficulties have been ongoing for a while now.

I've been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin'
My travel has been difficult, filled with uncertainty and risk-taking.

I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord
My travel has been so difficult that I have been seeking divine intervention to overcome it.

I've been ridin' them fast rattlers, I thought you knowed
I have been riding fast trains and assumed you knew about it.

I've been ridin' them flat wheelers, way down the road
I have been traveling on old, poorly maintained trains.

I've been ridin' them blind passengers, dead-enders, kickin' up cinders
I have been riding on trains that have dangerous passengers and throw cinders, exacerbating my travel issues.

I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord
My travel has been so hard that I need divine help to cope with it.

I've been hittin' some hard-rock minin', I thought you knowed
I have been doing difficult and dangerous mining work and thought you were aware of this.

I've been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road
I have been using a pressure drill while mining for a while now.

Hammer flyin', air-hose suckin', six foot of mud and I shore been a muckin'
I have been working hard, with my hammer flying and air-hose sucking while waist-deep in mud.

And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
My travel has been so difficult that I require divine assistance to cope.

I've been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed
I have been doing hard work harvesting crops and hoped you knew about it.

North Dakota to Kansas City, way down the road
I have traveled quite a distance while harvesting from North Dakota to Kansas City.

Cuttin' that wheat, stackin' that hay, and I'm tryin' make about a dollar a day
I have been cutting wheat and stacking hay, trying to make enough money to get by.

And I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord
My traveling has been so hard that I need divine help to make it through.

I've been working that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed
I have been working in the steel industry in Pittsburgh and assumed you were aware of it.

I've been a dumpin' that red-hot slag, way down the road
I have been dumping hot steel slag while working for a while.

I've been a blasting, I've been a firin', I've been a pourin' red-hot iron
I have been doing dangerous work that involves blasting, firing, and pouring molten steel.

I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
My travel has been so difficult that I need divine intervention to cope with it.

I've been layin' in a hard-rock jail, I thought you knowed
I have been imprisoned in a jail and thought you knew about this.

I've been a laying out 90 days, way down the road
I have been serving a 90-day sentence in jail for a while now.

Damned old judge, he said to me, "It's 90 days for vagrancy."
An unsympathetic judge who found me guilty of vagrancy sentenced me to 90 days in jail.

And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
My travel has been so hard that I need divine intervention to get through it.

I've been walking that Lincoln highway, I thought you knowed
I have been walking on the Lincoln highway and thought you knew about it.

I've been hittin' that 66, way down the road
I have also been traveling on the famous Route 66.

Heavy load and a worried mind, lookin' for a woman that's hard to find
I am carrying a heavy burden and am worried, as I search for a woman who is elusive.

I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
My travel experience has been so challenging that I need divine help to survive.

Contributed by Julian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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