The first known public appearance of the Osborne Brothers was in 1951. They joined the cast at WCYB Bristol, Virginia, to perform on a program called "Farm and Fun Time", along with other Bluegrass bands, such as, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Carl Story and his Rambling Mountainers. Other members of "Farm and Fun Time" included, Jim & Jesse, Little Robert Van Winkle, Curly King and the Tennessee Hilltoppers, and country recording artist Red Kirk. The live program aired five days a week, Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on WCYB Radio, and covered five states.
Upon their breakout into the bluegrass scene, the Osborne Brothers quickly became noted for their virtuosic instrumentation and tight, melodic vocal harmonies. Their first country chart appearance was "Once More", a 1958 trio with Red Allen, with a then-novel inverted stacked harmony: Bobby singing the lead line highest, then Sonny singing baritone, and finally the third singer (in this case Red Allen) singing the tenor as the lowest part. This placed Bobby's distinctive voice as the lead, and made the third voice a somewhat interchangeable part. As a result, the brothers could hire a series of guitarist/singers without changing their overall sound. This "high lead" vocal trio became their signature sound, used to great effect in the country market, with songs like "Blame Me", "Sweethearts Again", and a remake of the Carter Family's "Fair and Tender Ladies".
During their breakout period of the mid 1950s, Sonny's banjo and Bobby's mandolin styles became distinctive and easily-identifiable with their overall sound. The band was inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on August 8, 1964.
The Osborne Brothers have the distinction of having recorded two songs that would go on to be officially voted as "state songs." The first, "Rocky Top," was named a Tennessee state song in 1982. The other, "Kentucky," was named a state song for the brothers' home state of Kentucky.
In 1994, The Osborne Brothers were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor. The induction is considered bluegrass music's highest honor.
Take This Hammer
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone.
If he ask you was I runnin'
If he ask you was I runnin'
Tell him I'm flyin', tell him I'm flyin'.
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone.
--- Instrumental ---
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I don't want no cold iron shackles
It hurts my leg, well, it hurts my leg.
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone...
The Osborne Brothers's song Take This Hammer is a cover of the folk song originated by Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly. The song is about a man who is planning to escape and is asking someone to deliver a hammer to the captain. He wants the person to tell the captain that he is gone and not to bother coming after him. The man is trying to evade capture, and he makes it clear that he does not want to be shackled again.
Lead Belly, who wrote the original version of Take This Hammer, was known for writing and singing about social justice issues. This song is no exception. It is believed that the song is related to the convict leasing system, which was a way for southern states to lease their convicts to private companies. This system was a form of legal slavery and was used to control and profit from black men who were often held on trumped-up charges. The lyrics of Take This Hammer reflect the harsh reality of the convict leasing system, in which prisoners were subjected to brutal working conditions and often died from exhaustion and abuse.
In the Osborne Brothers's version of the song, we hear a soulful and mournful melody on the banjo and mandolin. The instrumental interlude mirrors the emotions conveyed in the lyrics. The song's message is made even more powerful by the deeply rooted history and the story it tells about forced labor and oppression. Take This Hammer is a reminder of the power of music as a tool to document history and fight for justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Pass this message to the captain
Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone.
Inform him that I am no longer around
If he ask you was I runnin'
If he inquires if I was in a rush
Tell him I'm flyin', tell him I'm flyin'.
Say that I am moving swiftly
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I do not desire any metal restraints
It hurts my leg, well, it hurts my leg.
It causes discomfort and pain to my leg
--- Instrumental ---
No lyrics, just instrumental music
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tima1929
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone tell him I'm gone
If he ask you was I runnin'
If he ask you was I runnin'
If he ask you was I runnin'
Tell him I'm flyin' tell him I'm flyin'
Take this hammer...
[ banjo ]
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I don't want no cold iron shackles
It hurts my leg well it hurts my leg
Take this hammer...
@billwoodrow6390
An all-time classic.
@CarolynAllen-fc2vs
always loved their songs!
@wrangler548
Nobody in the BG biz has harmony like Bob & Sonny
@case139
Great stuff, as always, by Sonny and Bob. If you've got "Ruby, Are You Mad?", can you please post it? Thanks in advance.
@Frankie3112Nld
Simply awesome.
@oneman49instruments
Lovely chors progression of all the times!
@tima1929
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Take this hammer carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone tell him I'm gone
If he ask you was I runnin'
If he ask you was I runnin'
If he ask you was I runnin'
Tell him I'm flyin' tell him I'm flyin'
Take this hammer...
[ banjo ]
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I don't want no cold iron shackles
I don't want no cold iron shackles
It hurts my leg well it hurts my leg
Take this hammer...
@christopherrushlau4335
With respect, the rendition by the Carpenter Ants on Picnic with the Lord is high and mighty.
@twilliams870
“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.”
@jennybh08
GREAT VIDEO!! Tell me where else you're gonna get the Osborne Bros. and Capt. Kirk in the same video...... GREAT!!!!