Hammer On The Rock
by @jtsteam
Liner Notes
A #ukulele #folk song of #protest perhaps? This was based on one of those cheesy motivational slogans I saw, so it's probably a bit of a cheesy song. Nevertheless, I wrote it, so here it is. Let's celebrate those small wins and keep hammering.
Sorry about the rough recording, especially the wonky harmonica. I'm heading out shortly and I wanted to post it anyway so I could move on...
You may spot a nod or two to The Weavers here. It is intentional :).
Lyrics
[C][F][C]
[F][Am][C][G][C]
You [C]take one step but there's [F]many miles to [C]go
You [C]keep on building but the [F]backlog over[G]flows
[F]Management is [G]on your back and [C]desperate to im[Am]press
While [F]you fulfil the [Am]promises of [C]every[G]body [C]else
[F]No prepa[C]ration, [F]compli[C]cation
[F]Stress, frust[C]ration, [F]procrasti[C]nation
[F]Burnout and ex[G]haustion , [C]confidence is [Am]knocked
You [F]might as well be [Am]hammering, [C]hammer on a [G]rock
The [C]challenge seems impossible, can't [F]bring yourself to [Am]start
But [C]one day you will hammer and the [F]rock will fall a[G]part
In the [F]morning, in the [G]evening, [C]hammer round the [Am]clock
Keep [F]hammering, [Am]hammering, [C]hammer [G]on the [C]rock
It [C]always feels that progress is so [F]glacially [C]slow
[C]Nothing seems to happen and the [F]fears begin to [G]grow
[F]Bigots guard [G]bathrooms, [C]madmen with [Am]guns
It's [F]hard to be[Am]lieve that [C]change will [G]ever [C]come
[F]Iso[C]lation, [F]warring [C]nations
[F]While we [C]chant on [F]demons[C]trations
[F]Feel it's not e[G]nough to give it [C]everything we've [Am]got
We [F]might as well be [Am]hammering, [C]hammer on a [G]rock
The [C]challenge seems impossible, can't [F]bring yourself to [Am]start
But [C]one day you will hammer and the [F]rock will fall a[G]part
Hammer [F]danger and a [G]warning, [C]hammer round the [Am]clock
Keep [F]hammering, [Am]hammering, [C]hammer [G]on the [C]rock
[C][F][Am]
[C][F][G]
[F][G][C][Am]
[F][Am][C][G][C]
[Am]Every crack in [Em]every formation
[Am]Every little victory is a [F]cause for celebr[G]ation
The [C]challenge seems impossible, can't [F]bring yourself to [Am]start
But [C]one day you will hammer and the [F]rock will fall a[G]part
Hammer [F]danger and a [G]warning, [C]hammer round the [Am]clock
Keep [F]hammering, [Am]hammering, [C]hammer [G]on the [C]rock
[F]Brothers, sisters, [G]all together
[C]one almighty [Am]thwock
We're [F]hammering, [Am]hammering, [C]hammer [G]on the [C]rock
[F][G][C][Am]
[F][Am][C][G][C]
Comments
"promises of everybody else" speaks to me. I think age has given me a sensitivity about how much of a person's life is expended in the service of someone else's agenda.
I can picture this as a huge singalong, and I am so in.
During Franco's dictatorship there were quite a few songs that hinted that the dictatorship would end with solidarity. But, of course, the song was never that specific. The most famous one is called "L'Estaca" and tells of a Grandfather telling his grandson about a stake to which they are tied. He advises his grandson to pull one way and he will pull the other and maybe they can work it loose. In the next verse the grandson is knackered. So in the last verse Granddad invites all the neighbours to help and together they know they will pull it from the ground and liberate themselves.
It has been translated into several languages and used recently in many demonstrations. "Hammering the Rock" has a similar message and feel.