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Indigo Girls — Hammer And A Nail
Album: Nomads Indians Saints
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 577









Released: 1990
Length: 3:45
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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clearing webs from the hovel
a blistered hand on the handle of a shovel
i've been digging too deep
i always do
i see my face on the surface
i look a lot like narcissus
a dark abyss of an emptiness
standing on the edge of a drowning blue

i look behind my ears for the green
and even my sweat smells clean
glare off the white hurts my eyes
i gotta get out of bed
get a hammer and a nail
learn how to use my hands
not just my head
i think myself in a jail
now i know a refuge never grows
from a chin in a hand
and a thoughtful pose
gotta tend the earth
if you want a rose

i had a lot of good intentions
sit around for fifty years
and then collect a pension
started seeing the road to hell
and just where it starts
but my life is more than a vision
the sweetest part is acting
after making a decision
started seeing the whole
as a sum of its parts

and i look behind my ears for the green
and even my sweat smells clean
glare off the white hurts my eyes
gotta get out of bed
get a hammer and a nail
learn how to use my hands
not just my head
i think myself in a jail
now i know a refuge never grows
from a chin in a hand
and a thoughtful pose
gotta tend the earth
if you want a rose

my life is part of the global life
i'd found myself becoming more immobile
when i'd think a little girl in the world
can't do anything
a distant nation my community
and a street person my responsibility
if i have a care in the world
i have a gift to bring

i look behind my ears for the green
even my sweat smells clean
glare off the white hurts my eyes
i gotta get out of bed
get a hammer and a nail
learn how to use my hands
not just my head
i think myself in a jail
now i know a refuge never grows
from a chin in a hand
and a thoughtful pose
gotta tend the earth
if you want a rose
Comments (32)add comment
Beautiful lyrics.. I wonder of the college gals ever even read the liner notes? Hits harder when you're reading it present day, decades after over playing it in the (not yet) hipster cafe,  downtown CowTown circa early 90's. 
Posted 1 year ago by pyrateparadox988    [ Reply ]
It's wild that the majority of the comments for this song are about two decades old!  This album was central to a couple years when I worked at a coffee roaster and cafe in the late 1980s.  What lovey memories of fine and interesting times.  I have always loved the vocal alchemy these two have.  Great inspiration to get outside and do something with my hands.
Posted 2 years ago by Kristin_in_WA    [ Reply ]
Well I like it!
Posted 5 years ago by BCarn    [ Reply ]
Pyro wrote:
God, listeners on RP can be so SOUR. I think I'd RATHER smell sweet sweat than read some of the ugly, negative comments here. Even if I didn't like this song (which I do), I can't imagine posting such crappy comments.
WORD.
Posted 20 years ago by Mairy    [ Reply ]
God, listeners on RP can be so SOUR. I think I'd RATHER smell sweet sweat than read some of the ugly, negative comments here. Even if I didn't like this song (which I do), I can't imagine posting such crappy comments.
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
these chicks drive me nuts. grody! :iamwith: i have no clue why...
Posted 20 years ago by asparklinggirl    [ Reply ]
You GO, Girls!!! A 9.
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
I can't add anything that hasn't been said already except to say: yep...
Posted 20 years ago by nausicaa    [ Reply ]
You know, it's pretty sad that the Indigo Girls' song is the most rocking song in this set, and I use the term "rocking" loosely Come on Bill, can you please keep us awake? Not all of us live in a women's dormatory
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
Must resist catchy pop music in favor of hating cheesy hippie lyrics...
Posted 20 years ago by cataloger    [ Reply ]
rulebritannia wrote:
This is quintessential dorm music. Please, RP Guru, this song might be alright by itself, but there's waaaay too much IG on RP of late.
Agreed! and well put. Just lower the dose.
Posted 20 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
beelzebubba wrote:
But there are just some songs that have no business leaving the halls of college dormitories. This is one of them.
This is quintessential dorm music. Please, RP Guru, this song might be alright by itself, but there's waaaay too much IG on RP of late.
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
Good to hear about their sweat. Great! I wanted to know how it smelled. And now I know!
Posted 21 years ago by m9    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by mr.selfdestruct: Thinking of a sweaty Indigo Girl doesn't do anyone any good. ;)
au contraire !!! My sisters here may consider this beneath notice or (contempt) but I can't let that stand. Call it rather advanced empathy if you will, but I'm rather fond of the smell of clean sweat, say with a touch of sunblock , although admittedly in a different context.
Posted 21 years ago by philarktos    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by beelzebubba: But there are just some songs that have no business leaving the halls of college dormitories. This is one of them.
ouch ! ouch ! ouch ! oooh you poor thing While there are no-doubt some co-eds playing the Indigo Girls in their dorms, can't say it's a primary association. Try peace marches, pride parades,and women's softball tournament mixers and potlucks. Indigo Girls ! You GO !!!
Posted 21 years ago by philarktos    [ Reply ]
This song is really beginning to grate on my nerves. And I\'m 90% sure it has to do with the sweaty part, and 10% just because it\'s the Indigo Girls. Come on, RP- just because you play a great eclectic mix doesn\'t mean that you have to play this!!
Posted 21 years ago by bkonkel    [ Reply ]
But there are just some songs that have no business leaving the halls of college dormitories. This is one of them.
Posted 21 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
I can NEVER hear to much of this.
Posted 21 years ago by philarktos    [ Reply ]
It was good the first hundred times I heard it, but after that... Please take this off the "play a day list".
Posted 21 years ago by ediTed    [ Reply ]
This song is a constant source of inspiration for me. One of their VERY best.
Posted 21 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]
This really is dull and uninteresting
Posted 21 years ago by Jonno    [ Reply ]
mmmmmmmmm... sweet sweet clean-smelling sweat. :p
Posted 21 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by jpalembas: i like this song, but the part about her sweat smelling clean always makes me cringe...
Me too jpal. Completely turns my stomach it does.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
i like this song, but the part about her sweat smelling clean always makes me cringe...
Posted 22 years ago by jpalembas    [ Reply ]
\"If I have a care in the world, I have a gift to bring\"... So great.
Posted 22 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by tawanda: Technically, in the history of music, this may not be the best song .... but it lifts my mood and that's always welcome.
I agree, think it's well worth having in the mix. I'm surprised it has such a low rating.
Posted 23 years ago by Cy    [ Reply ]
Technically, in the history of music, this may not be the best song .... but it lifts my mood and that\'s always welcome.
Posted 23 years ago by tawanda    [ Reply ]