Hey Spikedriver
Farewell to the Rails: Kane's River's Haunting Journey
Lyrics
Take this 9 pound hammer back to the captain
Returning a heavy hammer to the captain, possibly expressing dissatisfaction or resignation.
Let him swing it like John Henry all day long
Suggesting the captain should work hard with the hammer, reminiscent of the John Henry folk legend.
He can take this sorry deal, let him see just how it feels
Challenging the captain to experience the difficult situation, highlighting discontent.
I'm going to lay my hammer down and be long gone
Deciding to quit the labor and move on from the current circumstance.
Hey Spikedriver, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Addressing someone called "Spikedriver," predicting they'll miss the speaker after departure.
Hey Spikedriver, can't you hear my lonesome song
Reinforcing the expectation that the Spikedriver will regret the speaker's absence through a song.
I'm going to lay my hammer down and be long gone
Reiterating the intention to leave and cease working with the hammer.
I've been working too long on this railroad
Expressing exhaustion from prolonged railroad work.
Tell the walking boss I ain't coming back
Informing the supervisor that the speaker won't return to work.
I'm going to move on down the line, back home to Caroline
Planning to move away and return home, escaping the hardships of railroad labor.
I ain't going to let this railroad break my back
Determined not to let the demanding railroad job negatively impact the speaker's well-being.
Hey Spikedriver, you're going to miss me when I'm gone
Repeated assurance that the Spikedriver will feel the absence and miss the speaker.
Hey Spikedriver, can't you hear my lonesome song
Reinforcing the emotional impact through a lonesome song directed at the Spikedriver.
I'm going to lay my hammer down and be long gone
Confirming the decision to quit and leave the hammer behind.
Every night I hear that big spike hammer ringing
Describing the persistent sound of the spike hammer in the speaker's mind every night.
Cold, steel rails are always on my mind
Expressing the mental preoccupation with the steel rails, indicating a deep impact from the work.
I can still feel every blow from every spike I drove below
Reflecting on the physical and emotional toll of driving spikes into the railroad.
Still haunted by the life I left behind
Haunted by memories and the life left behind due to the demanding nature of the railroad job.
Hey Spikedriver, you're going to miss me when I'm gone
Reiterating the Spikedriver's anticipated regret and missing the speaker after departure.
Hey Spikedriver, can't you hear my lonesome song
Emphasizing the emotional impact through a lonesome song directed at the Spikedriver.
I'm going to lay my hammer down and be long gone
Final confirmation of the decision to leave and abandon the hammer.
I'm going to lay my hammer down and be long gone
Repeating the commitment to lay the hammer down and move on.
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