David Grisman started his musical career in 1963 as a member of The Even Dozen Jug Band. His nickname, "Dawg" was affectionately assigned by his close friend Jerry Garcia (the two met at a Van Hoy Campground (NC) back when they used to host the old time fiddlers convention). "Dawg Music" is what he calls his mixture of bluegrass and Django Reinhardt-Stéphane Grappelli-influenced jazz, as highlighted on his 1977 album "Hot Dawg". Stephane Grappelli played on a couple of tracks on the Hot Dawg album and then the 1981 recording "Stephane Grappelli and David Grisman Live". It was his early fusions with Reinhardt-era Jazz that led to the formation of the genre known as newgrass. Grisman, along with New Grass Revival are generally considered the modern day Bill Monroes to this new bluegrass-influenced sound.
Denny Zeitlin, Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Béla Fleck, Bob Brozman, Mike Auldridge, Mike Seeger, David Bromberg, Martin Taylor, Del McCoury, Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, Darol Anger (Turtle Island String Quartet), Sam Bush, and the Kronos Quartet are just some of the musicians that have played with David Grisman or been part of the DGQ (David Grisman Quintet).
The documentary "Grateful Dawg" chronicles the deep friendship between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. David Grisman appeared on the Grateful Dead's American Beauty album. To this day, Grisman complains of how Jerry Garcia vetoed the length of the mandolin solo featured on the studio version of Ripple. The two recorded a number of duet albums, including the children's album "Not for Kids Only". They also played together as the band "Old and in the Way" with Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, and John Kahn, which recorded three different albums.
Teardrops in My Eyes
David Grisman Lyrics
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This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
Baby, how can I roll when the wheels won't go
Up on the mountain just to see my honey
[Chorus]
It's a long way to Hazard a long way to Harian
Just to get a little booze, just get a little boos
[Chorus]
Ain't one hammer in this tunnel
That rings like mine that rings like mine
[Chorus]
It rings like silver and shines like gold
It rings like silver and shines like gold
[Chorus]
Somebody stole my nine pound hammer
They've took it and gone, they've took it and gone
[Chorus]
That nine pound hammer that killed John Henry
Ain't a gonna kill me, ain't a gonna kill me
[Chorus]
The song Teardrops in My Eyes by David Grisman is a classic Bluegrass tune that tells a story of a tired and hopeless man. The chorus sets the tone for the song by describing the weight of the nine-pound hammer that is too heavy for him, emphasizing the feeling of the burden. The first verse describes the man's struggle to keep going despite the slowness of his surrounding environment. He wants to keep pushing forward, but the lack of momentum brings him down. The second verse explains that the man is journeying up to the mountain to see his loved one and reflects that he will not be returning.
The following chorus again highlights the weight of the hammer, bringing up the theme of exhaustion and affliction. The third verse depicts the man's desperation as he continues the journey "a long way to Hazard, a long way to Harian, just to get a little booze." Despite the risks and the toll it is having on him, he continues to pursue his need for relief. The fourth verse displays the man's pride in his unique and special hammer, as he proclaims that "ain’t one hammer in this tunnel that rings like mine that rings like mine" and continues with the gold and silver attributes of it in the following line. The final verse reveals that somebody has stolen his precious nine-pound hammer, but no matter how valuable it may have been to him, it could not defeat him like the hammer that killed John Henry.
Overall, the song Teardrops in My Eyes takes a theme of hardship and pain and presents it with an optimistic underdog attitude that resonates with many listeners. The man might be struggling, but he is willing to keep going and does not let anything kill him, not even the loss of his special hammer.
Line by Line Meaning
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
This hammer that weighs nine pounds is too heavy for me, darling, considering my size
For my size, honey, for my size
I feel way too small than what is required to wield this nine pound hammer, my love
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
Come on, friend, move with some pace; don't go so slowly
Baby, how can I roll when the wheels won't go
My dear, how can I move faster when the wheels that propel me won't turn
Up on the mountain just to see my honey
I went on a mountain just to see my lover
And I ain't coming back, lord, I ain't coming back
I won't return back, my lord, I have no intentions of that
It's a long way to Hazard a long way to Harian
To get a little booze, it is quite far off to go to Hazard, and it's even farther to get to Harian
Just to get a little booze, just get a little booze
I only need to get a bit of alcohol, just a bit
Ain't one hammer in this tunnel
This tunnel doesn't have any hammer
That rings like mine that rings like mine
None of the hammers here makes the same sound as my hammer
It rings like silver and shines like gold
My hammer's sound is akin to silver, and it has the shine of gold
Somebody stole my nine pound hammer
A person has taken my nine pound hammer
They've took it and gone, they've took it and gone
The thief took it and left, they took it and left
That nine pound hammer that killed John Henry
The same nine pound hammer that killed John Henry
Ain't a gonna kill me, ain't a gonna kill me
It won't kill me, it won't kill me
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MERLE TRAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind