Although critically acclaimed, John Hammond has had only moderate commercial success. Nonetheless, he enjoys a strong fan base and has earned respect from the likes of John Lee Hooker, Roosevelt Sykes, Duane Allman, Robbie Robertson, and Charlie Musselwhite, all of whom have contributed their musical talents to Hammond's records. In addition, he is the only person who ever had Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix in his band at the same time, even if it was only for five days in the 1960s when Hammond played the Gaslight Café in New York. To his regret, they never recorded together.
John Hammond has had a longstanding friendship with songwriter Tom Waits, and has performed Waits' songs on occasion. In 2001, he released Wicked Grin, an album entirely of Tom Waits compositions. Waits himself provided guitar work and backing vocals as well as producing the project.
2. John Hammond was a old time banjo player from the 1920's. He recorded the bluegrass classic 'Little Birdie' in 1925.
Five Long Years
John Hammond Lyrics
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Have you ever been mistreated? You know just what I'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve to put me out.
I got a job in a steel mill, shucking steel like a slave.
Five long years, every Friday I come straight back home with all my pay.
Have you ever been mistreated? You know just what I'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve to put me out.
I finally learned my lesson, should a long time ago.
The next woman that I marry, she gonna work and bring me the dough.
Have you ever been mistreated? You know just what I'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve to put me out.
The song "Five Long Years" by John Hammond is a blues classic that speaks of the experience of being mistreated and taken for granted in a relationship. The lyrics are full of emotion, with a sense of resignation towards the end of the song as the singer finally learns his lesson after spending five long years working tirelessly for his lover.
The opening lines of the song capture the theme of mistreatment and disrespect that is persistent throughout the lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "Have you ever been mistreated?" engages the audience in a rhetorical question, inviting them to reflect upon their own experiences of being taken for granted. The singer then speaks of his own experience of working for five long years for one woman, only to be put out in the end, with no recognition or appreciation for his hard work.
The second verse of the song involves the singer talking about his job at a steel mill, where he worked like a slave, shucking steel every day. The repetition of the phrase "five long years" emphasizes the tedium and monotony of the singer's work, as he comes straight back home every Friday with his hard-earned pay, only to be mistreated by his lover yet again.
The final verse of the song ties together the overarching theme of the song, as the singer expresses his resolution to learn from his past mistakes and choose a partner who will appreciate him for who he is. While the song is deeply sad, it ends on a somewhat hopeful note that things will get better in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been mistreated? You know just what I'm talking about.
Have you ever been treated unfairly? You understand the feeling that I am describing.
I worked five long years for one woman, she had the nerve to put me out.
I devoted five difficult years of my life to a single woman, and she had the audacity to kick me out of her life.
I got a job in a steel mill, shucking steel like a slave.
I secured employment in a steel manufacturing facility, and I worked exhaustively as if I were a slave.
Five long years, every Friday I come straight back home with all my pay.
For five entire years, without respite, every Friday I would return home with the entirety of my earnings.
I finally learned my lesson, should a long time ago.
I eventually gained wisdom as a result of my past experiences, although it should have been learned much earlier.
The next woman that I marry, she gonna work and bring me the dough.
In the future, the woman I choose to wed will be financially responsible and contribute to our household income.
She had the nerve, she had the nerve, she had the nerve, she had the nerve to put me out.
Her actions were brazen and lacking in decency- multiple times she had the audacity to excommunicate me.
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.