I post songs on here that I call folk songs, even though they were written by one person, with copyright clear and all. But what really makes a song "of the folk" is the same thing that makes it anonymous: it's devised by a bunch of people over time. Someone comes up with some lyrics and adds a tune they remember, or makes one up, and as more people sing it they add more lyrics, change some things, and by the time it gets written down it might be the work of dozens of people or even a hundred.
Such is the origin of the song "Hammer, Ring," one of the old work songs of Black prisoners. It's a simple tune and unending -- you just make up something that fits the meter of the lyrics, and then everybody sings the chours: "Let your hammer, ring." It's the same song structure as "Down by the Bay" or "Quartermaster store", only It's a work song. It's got to last as long as the work does. So everyone who gets to sing the lyrics gets to add what they want to keep the song going. It's a song where the collabroative process of construction is obvious.
Some of the terms will be unfamiliar. I've put a soft link on those that explains the meaning.
I'm goin' down to the bottom, let your hammer ring... (2x)
A-just to ring my hammer...
I got a nine-pound hammer...
I'm gonna ring it in the bottom...
Well my partner's got worried...
I can't hear my partner's holler...
I'm gonna call a little louder...
I'm goin' down to the Braley Brazos*...
Oh just to cool my hammer...
Oh well I believe I call baby...
Oh well my baby's Evalina...
Oh Evalina I call you...
I got a letter from baby...
'Cause well my baby's Elnora...
'Cause well I believe I spied the rider...
Oh well who was the rider...
Oh well he rode 'em on the Brazos...
Oh jack O Diamonds was a ruler...
A well he drove 'em on the Brazos...
A well butt-cut crackin'...
You better watch-a my timber...
'Cause there won't be no more jackin'...
Why don't you bring me a drink a water...
Oh well a pull-do can't hold 'em...
A he's a number one driver...
I don't believe he can hold 'em...
Why don't you drop 'em down together...
I'm gonna cool my hammer...
Oh well my partner's got worried...
Oh well he worried aout his baby...
I can't hear noby holler...
Oh well drop 'em down together...
I'm gonna cross the big Brazos...
(shouted: Timber gettin' limber!)
Oh just to cool my hammer...
Oh Black Betty's in the bottom...
Why don't you call a little louder...
Oh Evalina, Evalina...
(spoken: Jack, jack it off! You're no goin' burn down... Rollin' it up here... etc....)
The song can be heard at the beginning of this video. A full version can be heard here.