Johnny Tillotson (born 20 April 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA) is an A… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Tillotson (born 20 April 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA) is an American singer and songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored 9 top-ten hits on the pop, country and adult contemporary billboard charts including "Poetry In Motion" and the self-penned "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'".

In 1957 while still in high school, Tillotson was making records and performing on stage; as a student at the University of Florida, he had his own musical variety show on regional television. Following graduation in 1959 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Communications, he signed with Cadence Records and moved to New York City to pursue his music career. In 1960, he recorded his first hit, a composition entitled "Poetry in Motion" (written by Anthony/Kaufman), that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and #1 on the UK Singles Chart.

A "crossover" artist, several of Tillotson's songs were successful on both the country music charts and pop charts. He earned a Grammy Award nomination for another of his own compositions, "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin," and also for the song "Heartaches by the Number," nominated for Best Vocal Performance of 1965. He also appeared in the 1963 film "Just for Fun" and sang the theme song for the 1965 Sally Field television comedy "Gidget".

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Tillotson has recorded 26 singles that made it onto Billboard's charts, and performed at venues across the United States and other places around the globe.

He was featured in the 1966 camp comedy The Fat Spy starring Jayne Mansfield, Jack E. Leonard, Phyllis Diller, Brian Donlevy and Jordan Christopher & the Wild Ones. This film was featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (#46).

Take This Hammer
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take this hammer take it to the Captain
Take this hammer take it to the Captain
Take this hammer take it to the Captain
Tell him I'm gone oh tell him I'm gone

I'm gonna ride that midnight special
I'm gonna ride that midnight special
I'm gonna ride that midnight special

And I ain't coming back oh I ain't coming back

Take this hammer take it to the Captain...
[ banjo ]
I don't want your cold iron shackles
I don't want your cold iron shackles
Now I don't want your cold iron shackles
Cause they hurt my leg oh they hurt my leg

Take this hammer take it to the Captain...
Take this hammer take it to the Captain...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Johnny Tillotson's song "Take This Hammer" depict the struggles and injustices faced by African American slaves in the United States during the 19th century. The hammer symbolizes the workers' internalized anger and frustration, which is directed towards the Captain who represents the figure of oppression and authority. By taking the hammer to the Captain, the workers are expressing their resistance and desire for freedom.

The first verse speaks of the workers' desire to escape the bondage of slavery by riding the "midnight special" train. This train was a symbol of hope for many slaves as it connected them to the Underground Railroad and offered them a chance to escape to the North, where they could live free.

The second verse expresses the workers' disdain for the iron shackles that were used to keep them in line. The lyrics suggest that these shackles not only hurt them physically but also served as a constant reminder of their enslaved status.

Overall, "Take This Hammer" is a powerful protest song that speaks to the struggles of African American slaves and their desire for freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

Take this hammer take it to the Captain
Hand over this tool to the Captain

Tell him I'm gone oh tell him I'm gone
Let him know that I am no longer here

I'm gonna ride that midnight special
I plan to travel on the late night train

And I ain't coming back oh I ain't coming back
I have no intention of returning

Take this hammer take it to the Captain...
Hand over this tool to the Captain

[ banjo ]
Instrumental interlude

I don't want your cold iron shackles
I refuse to be restrained by metal cuffs

Now I don't want your cold iron shackles
I refuse to be restrained by metal cuffs

Cause they hurt my leg oh they hurt my leg
Because these cuffs cause me physical pain

Take this hammer take it to the Captain...
Hand over this tool to the Captain

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, BROWNIE MAC-GHEE, PD TRADITIONAL, SONNY (US TERRY, SONNY (USA TERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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