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.
Nadine
John Hammond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought I saw my future bride walking up the street
I shouted to the driver, "Hey conductor, you must slow down
I think I see her, please let me off the bus"
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
Seems like every time I see you
I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled back
And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
I was pushin' through the crowd tryna get to where she's at
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey where are you?
Seems like every time I catch you
But you're up to something new
Downtown searching for her, looking all around
Saw her getting in a yellow cab heading uptown
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab
Flip the twenty dollar bill and told him catch that yellow cab
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
Seems like every time I catch you
But you're up to something new
She moved around like a wayward summer breeze
Go, driver, go, go on, catch her for me please
Moving through the traffic like a mounted cavalier
Leaning out the taxi window trying to make her hear
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
Seems like every time I see you
Darling, you're up to something new
John Hammond's song Nadine is about a man's search for a woman named Nadine. The song begins with the man getting on a city bus and seeing a woman he believes is his future bride walking up the street. He asks the conductor to let him off the bus because he thinks he has found the woman he has been searching for. He then begins his search for Nadine, who he sees is getting into a coffee-colored Cadillac. He navigates through the crowd and begins shouting like a southern diplomat. He tries to catch up with Nadine but fails, and she gets into a yellow cab heading uptown. He then catches a loaded taxi and pays for everyone's tab, telling the driver to catch up to the yellow cab.
Throughout the song, the man describes Nadine's movements as "wayward," suggesting that he believes she is evading him. The song's lyrics convey the man's curiosity and intrigue about Nadine, but they also reveal the frustration he experiences when trying to catch up to her. In addition, the southern diplomat reference may also suggest that the man is from the South, further painting a picture of the man and his quest for Nadine.
Overall, John Hammond's Nadine is a song that emphasizes the journey rather than the endpoint. The lyrics convey the man's attempts to find Nadine, but they also highlight his struggles in doing so. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics make it an enjoyable song to listen to, even without knowing the backstory behind the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat
I boarded a city bus and found an available seat.
I thought I saw my future bride walking up the street
I believed that I saw the person I am meant to marry walking on the road.
I shouted to the driver, 'Hey conductor, you must slow down
I commanded the driver to decelerate when I saw the person I liked.
I think I see her, please let me off the bus'
I requested the driver to permit me to get down from the bus because I believed I had seen the person I liked.
Nadine, honey is that you?
I addressed the person I believed I had seen as Nadine, my affectionate form of address, and enquired whether it was really them.
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
I repeated my question in a more affectionate tone to ascertain their identity.
Seems like every time I see you
I felt as though every time I saw the person, they had something else to do.
Darling, you got something else to do
I called the person darling and expressed my opinion that they always had something else to do every time I saw them.
I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled back
I spotted the person from the corner of the street when they turned around and retraced their steps.
And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
I observed the person proceeding toward a brown-colored Cadillac.
I was pushin' through the crowd tryna get to where she's at
I was forcefully navigating through the multitude of people to get to where the person I liked was.
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat
I was vociferously stating my case like a politician running for office in the southern part of America.
Oh, Nadine, honey where are you?
I addressed the person as Nadine and questioned where they were.
Saw her getting in a yellow cab heading uptown
I observed the person getting into a yellow taxi going in the direction of uptown.
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab
I hired a cab that was full, paid everyone's fare and instructed the driver to follow the yellow taxi that the person I liked had gotten into.
Flip the twenty dollar bill and told him catch that yellow cab
I flipped a twenty-dollar bill toward the cab driver and told them to pursue the yellow taxi.
She moved around like a wayward summer breeze
I likened the person's movement to that of an aimless summer breeze.
Go, driver, go, go on, catch her for me please
I urged the driver to accelerate and catch up to the person I liked.
Moving through the traffic like a mounted cavalier
I compared the movement of the cab with the way a chivalrous horseman would move through a crowd.
Leaning out the taxi window trying to make her hear
I leaned out the window of the taxi and tried to make the person I liked hear me.
Contributed by Eli V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
h2theizzoh2theizza
One of the best
Jonny Beck
This cut is just so fine... go Johnny...
raindogred
Theres about 3 or 4 versions of Nadine recorded by John..this the best by far the best and the one I fell in love with. The definitive version..sorry Chuck
Jonny Beck
I so agree!
Jonny Beck
Where on the planet are you and do you jam?
I'm in picturesque Koreatown, Los Angeles, Calif. U.S.A.
John Sandman
I can't agree. Best version is on Southern Fried cut in Muscle Shoals, ALA.
raindogred
@John Sandman i love Southern Fried album. I just think the exaggerated vocals on this one are the best imho. thats the beauty of music we all have our favourites.
raindogred
@Jonny Beck hey Johnny. I jam at home mostly these days in Gold Coast, Australia. gave up bands about 10 years ago..too long in the tooth :) I still mess around recording and stuff..always a guitar not far from hand. cheers mate
Dennis Parker
Excellent
Patty Neff
Have Mercy!