Both albums to date are modern interpretations of traditional folk songs (and one by Tears For Fears for good measure.)
Sam was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, June 3, 1981and currently lives near New York City.
www.samamidon.com
1842
Samamidon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without our shoes, without our hat
Nothing in the world but an old straw hat
Workin' on the railroad
Rug shugaroo shug shugaroo
Sugar in the cream shaw how do you do
Just on the rail road folly follaroo
1842
I didn't know what i should do
Sailed across the ocean blue
Work all on the railroad
Rug shugaroo shug shugaroo
Sugar in the cream shaw how do you do
Just on the rail road folly follaroo
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
1843
I set out across the sea
Didn't expect to see poor me
Working on the railroad
Rug shugaroo shug shugaroo
Sugar in the cream shaw how do you do
Just on the rail road folly follaroo
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
1844
I landed on the foreign shore
Didn't expect to see me more
Working on the railroad
Rug shugaroo shug shugaroo
Sugar in the cream shaw how do you do
Just on the rail road folly follaroo
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
Railroad comes, we'll take a ride
Here we go side by side
Here we go side by side
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
Rug shugaroo shug shugaroo
Sugar in the cream shaw how do you do
Just on the rail road folly follaroo
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
The lyrics of Samamidon's "1842" describe the life of workers on a railroad in the mid-19th century. The song is an ode to the physical labor and the hardships that came with it. The song starts with a chant of "Pat do this, Pat do that, without our shoes, without our hat" - an instruction for the workers to carry on with their tasks. The lyrics then introduce the banjo player, who represents a source of entertainment for these workers. The song goes through several years, 1842, 1843, 1844, and speaks of the singer crossing oceans to work. The lyrics then return to the present where the workers are ready to ride the railroad, singing and playing music (as represented by the banjo). The repetitive use of "shug shugaroo" and "folly follaroo" suggest the camaraderie that workers shared as they toiled alongside each other.
At its core, "1842" is a song that romanticizes the lives of railroad workers. It showcases their resilience, the sense of community they shared, and the little joys they found amidst hard labor. The lyrics represent a time when work was hard but friendships were strong, music and laughter were a welcome distraction, and life was simpler.
Line by Line Meaning
Pat do this, Pat do that
A reference to the monotonous nature of work on the railroad
Without our shoes, without our hat
Workers were not provided with adequate protective gear
Nothing in the world but an old straw hat
Workers had very little in terms of belongings or comforts
Workin' on the railroad
The primary focus and activity of the workers
Rug shugaroo shug shugaroo
Nonsensical sounds used to lighten the mood among workers
Sugar in the cream shaw how do you do
A reference to the inadequate nutritional value of the food provided to workers
Just on the rail road folly follaroo
A phrase that is repeated to create a sense of camaraderie among the workers
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
A source of entertainment among the workers
1842
The beginning of the artist's journey
I didn't know what i should do
Uncertainty and confusion regarding the artist's next steps
Sailed across the ocean blue
A description of the singer's journey
1843
A continuation of the artist's journey
I set out across the sea
The singer's determination to travel and seek new opportunities
Didn't expect to see poor me
A sense of disappointment or hardship experienced by the singer
1844
The end of the singer's journey
I landed on the foreign shore
The artist's arrival at a new destination
Didn't expect to see me more
An expression of surprise regarding the artist's longevity
Railroad comes, we'll take a ride
An expression of hope for a new opportunity or adventure
Here we go side by side
An expression of camaraderie among the workers
Johnny comes pickin' on the banjo
A continuing source of entertainment
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christina Lockard
this clip is so hypnotizing and perfect with the song..where's it from?
Jeremy Paek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dickson_Experimental_Sound_Film