Hambone
John Dee Holeman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Hambone! Hambone!

Hambone, hambone
Where you been?
Round the world and I'm going again
What you gonna do when you come back?
Take a little walk by the railroad track
Hambone

Hambone, hambone
Where you been?
Round the world and I'm going again
I just skinned an alley cat
To make my wife a Sunday hat
Took the hide right off a goat
To make my wife a Sunday coat

Hambone, hambone
Where's your wife
Out to the kitchen, cooking beans and rice
Hambone
Hambone

Hambone, hambone
Trying to eat
Ketchup on his elbow, pickle on his feet
Bread in the basket
Chicken in the stew
Supper on the fire for me and you

Look at him holler, look at him moan
That hambone just can't hambone

Hambone
Hambone

Overall Meaning

The song “Hambone” by John Dee Holeman is a traditional folk tune that has been passed down through generations of African American musicians. The song is believed to have originated during the era of slavery in the United States when enslaved Africans would use their bodies as percussion instruments as they worked in the fields or performed various chores. In the song, the singer, who is referred to as “Hambone,” is depicted as a wanderer who has traveled around the world and is about to embark on another journey.

Throughout the song, Hambone recites various rhyming verses that detail his travels and experiences. He talks about buying a mockingbird and a diamond ring, and the consequences if they don't meet his standards. He also discusses how he has skinned an alley cat and taken the hide off a goat to make his wife a hat and coat. In the final verse, Hambone is portrayed as a hapless character who can't even eat without making a mess.

The lyrics of “Hambone” are playful and contain a lot of wordplay and rhymes. Despite the light tone of the song, it also serves as a commentary on the experiences of African Americans during a particularly difficult time in American history. The line “skinned an alley cat to make my wife a Sunday hat” is particularly poignant, as it highlights the resourcefulness and creativity of enslaved Africans who had to make do with very little.

Line by Line Meaning

Hambone! Hambone!
The singer is calling out his own name, Hambone, and it serves as a way to start the song and capture the listener's attention.

Hambone, hambone Where you been? Round the world and I'm going again What you gonna do when you come back? Take a little walk by the railroad track Hambone
The singer is explaining that he's going to travel the world again and upon his return, he would take a stroll down by the railroad track. The words signify his desire for adventure and freedom.

Hambone, hambone Have you heard? Papa's gonna buy me a mocking bird And if that mocking bird don't sing Papa's gonna buy me a diamond ring And if that diamond ring don't shine Papa's gonna take it to the five and dime Hambone
The singer tells a childlike loop about his father buying him gifts. However, the poem reflects his joy in the simple pleasures of life and his resilience in handling disappointment.

Hambone, hambone Where you been? Round the world and I'm going again I just skinned an alley cat To make my wife a Sunday hat Took the hide right off a goat To make my wife a Sunday coat Hambone,
The singer proudly tells how he skinned an alley cat to create a beautiful hat for his wife, and also that he took the hide off a goat to create a coat. The words demonstrate a resourcefulness and creativity to provide for his family.

Hambone, hambone Where's your wife Out to the kitchen, cooking beans and rice Hambone
This line continues the theme of the previous two lines. The singer tells that his wife is cooking beans and rice while he is singing for the audience. The words give listeners an insight into the daily lives of ordinary working-class African Americans in the south.

Hambone, hambone Trying to eat Ketchup on his elbow, pickle on his feet Bread in the basket Chicken in the stew Supper on the fire for me and you Look at him holler, look at him moan That hambone just can't hambone Hambone Hambone
The lyrics describe a scene where the singer was having supper. When he sang, he noticed that he had ketchup on his elbow and a pickle on his feet. The chorus, 'look at him holler, look at him moan, that hambone just can't hambone,' is a reference to his inability to control the urge to dance or perform for the audience. The words speak to the carefree attitude and the joyous spirit of the singer, even during the toughest times of life.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it