Band leader Harvey was born in Glasgow, Scotland 1935. During the fifties he played in many different Jazz bands playing Dixieland Jazz and later skiffle.
In 1959 he formed the Alex Harvey Soul Band playing Blues and rock n Roll music. Although a successful stint in Hamburg completed, Harvey found it difficult finding recognition with the ‘Soul Band’ and through the second half of the sixties Alex with his brother Les Harvey moved from one group to another until 1969 when he took up as a resident musician in the stage show of ‘Hair’.
In 1972 Alex joined forces with Scottish up and coming rockers ‘Tear Gas’. The band with Alex at the helm changed names to “The Sensational Alex Harvey Band”. The Sensational Alex Harvey Shows were noted for their theatrical content and idiosyncratic style of delivery. The music influences varied greatly. From blues to music hall stage shows.
After years of a punishing stage show and never ending Gig schedules, Alex announced in 1977 that due to back problems he was to retire from the music business.
Following a rare come back tour in Europe Alex died of a heart attack in 1982.
In 1977 after the Band and Alex Harvey parted company with Alex recording the solo Album ‘Loch Ness Monster’ (NB: Not a music album, but a recorded documentary about the fabled monster !), while the band without Alex, recorded ‘Four Play’. Alex and the band came together again in 1978 for a final album 'Rock Drill'. The Band and Alex then parted company again. Alex put together a new band in 1979 to record the album ‘The Mafia Stole My Guitar’. In 1983 Alex's final recording ‘Soldier On The Wall’ (comprised mainly of recordings made pre-SAHB), was posthumously issued. The Band having separated and playing in different Bands re-united in 2004 for a final tour with spot. The band released a live recording 'Zalvation'. Through 2006 the band has continued to play live in Britain with some new dates for 2007. 2006 band members are Max Maxwell filling the vocal spot with original members Zal Cleminson; Guitar, Chris Glen; Bass, Hugh McKenna; Keyboards, and Ted McKenna; Drums
Alex Harvey and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band releases include
• 1972 Framed
• 1973 Next
• 1974 The Impossible Dream
• 1975 Tomorrow Belongs To Me
• 1976 Penthouse Tapes
• 1976 SAHB Stories
• 1978 Rock Drill
Alex Harvey Solo Releases include
• 1977 Alex Harvey Presents The Loch Ness Monster
• 1979 The Mafia Stole My Guitar
• 1983 Soldier On The Wall
Sensational Alex Harvey Band (without Alex Harvey) Include
• 1977 Four play
. 1993 Live in Glasgow (Stevie Doherty vocals)
• 2005 Zalvation
Hammer Song
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
said the man with the hammer,
hammering the anvil
"I've been walking on the road of rocks
and I keep on hammering,
Keep on hammering,
keep on hammering
hammering the anvil."
"Don't let the sun go down,"
said the man with the fire,
firing the furnace
"I've been buried in the snow
and I keep on firing,
keep on firing,
firing the furnace."
"Don't talk to me",
said the man with the chisel,
chiseling the surface
"I've been sleeping far too long,
and I keep on chiseling,
keep on chiseling,
keep on chiseling
chiseling the surface."
"I don't know what you mean",
said the man with the shovel,
shoveling the ashes,
"I've been diggin in the frozen ground,
and I keep on shoveling,
keep on shoveling,
keep on shoveling,
shoveling the ashes
Chiseling the surface,
Firing the furnace,
Hammering the anvil
Hammering the anvil.
"Oh please, don't sell me out",
said the man with the hammer,
hammering the anvil
"I've been walking on the road of rocks,
and I keep on hammering ,
keep on hammering,
keep on hammering,
hammering the anvil."
Shoveling the ashes
Chiseling the surface
Firing the furnace
Hammering the anvil.
Keep it on, keep it on, keep it on!
Hammering the anvil.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band's song "Hammer Song" was released in 1975 and is a rock anthem that metaphorically equates working tirelessly with various tools to the unceasing toil and effort of life itself. The song is a perfect reflection of the band’s viewpoint as it describes the experience of a group of individuals who work diligently with their respective tools yet find it hard to keep up under the strain. Alex Harvey, the band's lead singer, delivers the lyrics with his unique vocal range, which boasts of intensity and depth on the chorus. Each of the verses in "Hammer Song" details the struggles of different workers, each of whom appeals to others to not sell them out but to rather let them toil in peace. The repetition of phrases like "Keep it on, keep it on, keep it on!" symbolizes persistence and determination.
The song's compelling lyrics is an excellent example of the metaphorical use of tools to describe life's struggles and the determination to keep going amidst difficult times. The chorus, for example, highlights the continued use of the hammer as a source of strength and persistence, while the other tools are used to symbolize other struggles. Overall, the song's theme is one of hope, determination, and endless effort amidst situations that strive to break one down.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh please, don't sell me out
The man with the hammer pleads not to be betrayed.
said the man with the hammer,
The singer is the man with the hammer.
hammering the anvil
The singer is currently working on the anvil.
I've been walking on the road of rocks
The artist has been through tough times.
and I keep on hammering,
Despite the hardships, the artist persists in working on the anvil.
Keep on hammering,
The singer is encouraging himself to continue working.
keep on hammering
The singer is determined to keep working.
Hammering the anvil.
The artist is still working on the anvil.
Don't let the sun go down,
The man with the fire implores someone to keep his fire going.
said the man with the fire,
The artist is the man with the fire.
firing the furnace
The singer is currently tending to the furnace.
I've been buried in the snow
The artist has also experienced hardship.
and I keep on firing,
Despite the difficulties, the singer persists in tending the fire.
keep on firing,
The singer remains determined to keep the fire going.
firing the furnace.
The singer is still tending to the furnace.
Don't talk to me
The man with the chisel does not want to be disturbed.
said the man with the chisel,
The artist is the man with the chisel.
chiseling the surface
The singer is currently working on the surface.
I've been sleeping far too long,
The singer has been inactive for a while.
and I keep on chiseling,
Despite the inactivity, the artist still works on the surface.
keep on chiseling,
The artist remains motivated to keep working.
keep on chiseling
The artist is determined to continue working.
chiseling the surface.
The singer is still working on the surface.
I don't know what you mean
The man with the shovel is confused.
said the man with the shovel,
The singer is the man with the shovel.
shoveling the ashes,
The singer is currently shoveling ashes.
I've been diggin in the frozen ground,
The singer has been doing difficult work.
and I keep on shoveling,
Despite the difficulty, the artist keeps working.
keep on shoveling,
The artist is determined to keep working.
keep on shoveling
The singer remains motivated to continue working.
shoveling the ashes
The singer is still shoveling ashes.
Chiseling the surface,
Recapitulation of the work of the man with the chisel.
Firing the furnace,
Recapitulation of the work of the man with the fire.
Hammering the anvil
Recapitulation of the work of the man with the hammer.
Hammering the anvil.
The singer is still working on the anvil.
Shoveling the ashes
Recapitulation of the work of the man with the shovel.
Chiseling the surface
Recapitulation of the work of the man with the chisel.
Firing the furnace
Recapitulation of the work of the man with the fire.
Hammering the anvil.
The singer is still working on the anvil.
Keep it on, keep it on, keep it on!
The artist encourages everyone to keep working.
Hammering the anvil.
The artist is still working on the anvil.
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.