A Hundred Pounds of Clay
Gene McDaniels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gene McDaniels
Highest chart position # 3 in 1961
Written by Bob Elgin, Luther Dixon, and Kay Roger
He took a hundred pounds of clay
And they He said "Hey, listen"
"Because I know what's missin' "
Then He rolled his big sleeves up
And a brand-new world began
He created a woman and-a lots of lovin' for a man
Whoa-oh-oh, yes he did
With just a hundred pounds of clay
He made my life worth livin'
And I will thank Him every day
For every kiss you're givin'
And I'll thank Him every night
For the arms that are holdin' me tight
And He did it all with just a hundred pounds of clay
Yes he did, whoa-oh, yes He did
Now can'tcha just see Him a-walkin' 'round and 'round
Pickin' the clay uppa off the ground?
Doin' just what He should do
To make a livin' dream like you
He rolled His big sleeves up
And a brand-new world began
He created a woman and-a lots of lovin' for a man
Whoa-oh-oh, yes he did
With just a hundred pounds of clay
FADE
People, let me tall ya what He did
With just a hundred pounds of clay
The song "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" by Gene McDaniels is a soulful ballad about the power of creation and the immense wonders that can be achieved with just a little bit of clay. The lyrics speak of a divine entity who takes a hundred pounds of clay and sets out to fix the world by creating something new and beautiful. The song is densely layered with religious overtones and metaphors, painting a vivid picture of a master craftsman who is determined to make the world right.
In the first verse, the singer describes how the creator takes a hundred pounds of clay and sets out to fix the world, acknowledging that he knows what is missing. The second verse speaks to the creation of a woman and love, which are all created with just a hundred pounds of clay. The chorus exclaims that the creator can do all these things with only a hundred pounds of clay, acknowledging the power and ability of the divine to create life in all its forms.
The verses of the song concentrate on the creator's ability to mold the clay into new forms and create something beautiful out of the raw material. The song brings to mind the idea that even though we are created out of simple elements, we have the potential to grow and become something great. The song's metaphors and imagery suggest that we can all be the sculptors of our own lives and that we can create beauty with our own two hands.
Line by Line Meaning
He took a hundred pounds of clay
He embarked on a great project with limited resources
And they He said "Hey, listen"
He encountered a challenge and decided to take action
"I'm gonna fix this-a world today"
He had a vision of bettering the world
"Because I know what's missin' "
He identified a missing component of the world and aimed to address it
Then He rolled his big sleeves up
He got to work
And a brand-new world began
He started a transformational process
He created a woman and-a lots of lovin' for a man
He fashioned elements of the world with love and compassion
Whoa-oh-oh, yes he did
His action was successful and impactful
With just a hundred pounds of clay
He accomplished all of this with limited resources
He made my life worth livin'
He had a positive impact on the life of the artist
And I will thank Him every day
The singer acknowledges the creator's impact and is grateful
For every kiss you're givin'
The artist finds joy and love with someone special, thanks to the creator's intervention
And I'll thank Him every night
The singer is grateful even during moments of rest
For the arms that are holdin' me tight
The singer finds comfort and safety in the arms of their loved one, thanks to the creator's actions
Now can'tcha just see Him a-walkin' 'round and 'round
The singer is attempting to envision the creator in action
Pickin' the clay uppa off the ground?
The creator is shown gathering raw materials to work with
Doin' just what He should do
The creator is depicted as fulfilling their duty
To make a livin' dream like you
The creator is shown fulfilling their goal of creating something wonderful, like the singer's happiness
He rolled His big sleeves up
The creator got to work again
And a brand-new world began
Another transformative process was started
He created a woman and-a lots of lovin' for a man
The creator once again brings love and joy to the world
Whoa-oh-oh, yes he did
The creator persisted in their impactful actions
With just a hundred pounds of clay
Once again, the creator did all this with limited resources
People, let me tall ya what He did
The singer wants to share the story of the creator's accomplishments
With just a hundred pounds of clay
The creator accomplished so much with so little
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOB ELGIN, KAY ROGERS, LUTHER DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annmargaret1069
Oh I remember this song when it came out. I am 98 yrs old. The early 1960s has some of the most beautiful songs. And I am very grateful to have been an adult duing that time. I remember music from the 1920, 1930s, 1940s, 1950, 1970s, and I even loved the 1980s. But this song is very special to me.
@robertstv8045
Best wishes...
@anthonypalmisano5341
God bless you
@webman1956
I had the joy of listening to music with my grandparents as they introducded me to big band and swing music and then some Stan Getz and then Bert Kaempfert and Sinatra and many more and I introduced them to my 70`s rock and roll. I will always cherish the memories we shared and my appreciation and love I got for the music they shared with me.
@johndigrazio7704
To Ann....may God bless you. I was only 5 when that song came out and my Dad loved it to.
@hoobie7588
May God Almighty bless you sir. Lucky to remember such great music! Today’s music is CRAP!! Go In Peace sir!!
@MustangSally7259
My dads favorite song. He played it endlessly when my mom died at the age of 30.
@TheShepcom
Listening in 2023.
@sharonthomas3459
Omg this song is brilliant . I cant begin to explain how this makes me feel . 💙 . This is a hit 🎉🎊🔥
@lawsonstallings1955
This song touched millions of people including me. May Gene McDaniels rest in peace.