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.
You'll Miss Me
John Hammond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know you're going to miss me, when I'm dead and gone
Well I know she going to miss me, well when I'm dead and gone
I know you going to miss me baby, *oh poor boy will be*
When you hear me singing, mama this old lonesome song
Know you going to miss poor Joe, when I'm dead and gone
Went down to the station, went out on the track
Saw my baby leaving, couldn't call her back
Well I know that woman going to miss me, well when I'm dead and gone
I know you going to miss me baby, count the days I'm gone
Cried last night baby, all night before
Stop my way of living, and I won't have to cry no more
When I get down and out, sing this lonesome song
Swear you going to miss me woman, when I'm dead and gone
Cried last night mama, cried all night before
Going back home to my baby, won't have to cry no more
The lyrics of John Hammond's song "You'll Miss Me" are a reflection of the singer’s anticipation of his own death and how his lover will miss him after he passes away. The song begins with the singer beseeching his lover to say goodbye to him as he expects his death to be soon. He then predicts that she will miss him when he is gone. The singer's experience of singing a lonesome song becomes the source of his confidence that the lover will miss him. Although he believes his lover will miss him, he is unsure of how much she will miss him, and that is why he mentions the words "oh poor boy will be."
In the next verse, the singer is at the train station, seeing his lover leaving him. It is unclear if she is leaving forever or if she is just temporarily going away. The singer then repeats his expectation that his lover will miss him when he is gone, and he even implores her to count the days that he is gone. In the third verse, the singer mentions that he cried all night long, but he stopped when he finally accepted his fate in life. He then adds that his lonesome song will remind his lover to miss him when he is gone.
The song ends with the singer crying again all night long, but this time, it is because he is going back home to his lover, and he won't have to cry anymore. Thus, the overall message of the song is that even though the singer will die, his lover will miss him when he is gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I beg you baby, baby so long
I am saying goodbye to you, baby
Know you're going to miss me, when I'm dead and gone
You will realize my worth only when I am no more
Well I know she going to miss me, well when I'm dead and gone
I am aware that she will regret ignoring me only after my death
I know you going to miss me baby, oh poor boy will be
You will be the one to suffer when I am gone
When you hear me singing, mama this old lonesome song
This song is a reminder that you will miss me when I am gone
Know you going to miss poor Joe, when I'm dead and gone
You will regret not valuing me enough when I am no more
Went down to the station, went out on the track
I watched you leave me and go away
Saw my baby leaving, couldn't call her back
I couldn't stop you from leaving me
I know that woman going to miss me, well when I'm dead and gone
I am certain that this woman will regret not staying with me when I am gone
I know you going to miss me baby, count the days I'm gone
You will long for my presence once I am no longer around
Cried last night baby, all night before
I cried all night, thinking about how you will miss me only when it is too late
Stop my way of living, and I won't have to cry no more
If you stopped neglecting me, I wouldn't have a reason to cry
When I get down and out, sing this lonesome song
I will sing this song when I am heartbroken and alone
Swear you going to miss me woman, when I'm dead and gone
I am certain that you will regret not cherishing me when I die
Cried last night mama, cried all night before
I cried all night, feeling sorry for myself because you didn't value me
Going back home to my baby, won't have to cry no more
I will find solace by coming back home to you
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.