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.
My Starter Won't Start
John Hammond Lyrics
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And I'm about to lose my mind
My starter won't start this mornin'
And I'm about to lose my mind
I wanna go and see my little baby
But my machine is all outa time
I got water in my gas tank and my battery's all run down
I got water in my gas tank and my battery's all run down
I'm gonn' leave this lonesome town
Well blow your harmonica son...
My starter won't start this mornin'
And my car won't do a thing
My starter won't start this mornin'
No my car won't do a thing
I must begot some kind of bad disconnection
Somewhere in my piston ring
In John Hammond's blues song "My Starter Won't Start," the singer is frustrated because his car won't start, preventing him from visiting his "little baby." The repetition of the line "My starter won't start this mornin'" emphasizes his annoyance and desperation. The use of the word "machine" instead of "car" in the second verse is interesting because it depersonalizes the vehicle, emphasizing its mechanical components and the singer's inability to fix them.
The second verse reveals the cause of the problem: water in the gas tank and a drained battery. These mechanical issues are compounded by the singer's emotional distress at being unable to see his loved one, making the situation even more frustrating. The final verse introduces the idea of a "bad disconnection" in the piston ring, a more complex and serious issue that suggests the singer's car may be beyond repair.
Overall, the lyrics convey the singer's sense of helplessness and desperation in the face of mechanical problems that are hindering his ability to see his loved one. The use of blues music, with its emphasis on repetitive structures and emotional expression, effectively communicates the singer's distress.
Line by Line Meaning
My starter won't start this mornin'
The engine of my car won't start this morning
And I'm about to lose my mind
I am becoming frustrated and upset because of the car trouble
I wanna go and see my little baby
I want to visit my loved one
But my machine is all outa time
But my car has broken down and I can't get there
I got water in my gas tank
There is water in my car's gas tank
and my battery's all run down
My car battery is dead
If I don't see my little baby
If I am unable to visit my loved one
I'm gonn' leave this lonesome town
I will leave this town because I am unhappy without my loved one
Well blow your harmonica son...
This line is a request for someone to play harmonica, likely to lift spirits or distract from the car troubles
No my car won't do a thing
My car is still not functioning
I must begot some kind of bad disconnection
There is likely a serious mechanical problem with my car, such as a bad connection in the piston ring
Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.