Ain't No More Cane

The Band, Bob Dylan

About Ain't No More Cane

"Ain't No More Cane on This Brazos" is a traditional prison work song of the Southern United States. The title refers to work assigned to prisoners sentenced to hard labor in Texas. The labor involved cutting sugar cane along the banks of the Brazos River, where many of the state's prison farms were located in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It has been recorded by Alan Lomax on his 1958 recording Texas Folk Songs Sung by Alan Lomax as "Ain't No More Cane on This Brazis", Odetta, Lonnie Donegan, the Limeliters on their album 14 14K Folksongs (1963), Son Volt on the album A Retrospective: 1995-2000, and The Band on the album Across the Great Divide. Bob Dylan also performed the song live in the early 1960s and his version is on multiple bootleg recordings taken from The Gaslight Cafe. An extensive set of lyrics to the song, as sung by inmates of Central State Farm near Houston, Texas, appears in folklorist John Lomax's book American Ballads and Folk Songs, originally published in 1934. Lomax collected another version of the song in a recording of a performance by Ernest Williams and James (Iron Head) Baker; the recording appears on the Document Records album Field Recordings, Vol. 6: Texas (1933-1958). 


Year:
2013
3:56
147 
#3

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Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
Oh, oh, oh-oh
It's all been ground down to molasses
Oh, oh, oh-oh

You shoulda been on the river in ninteen-and-ten
Oh, oh, oh-oh
They were driving the women just like they drove the men
Oh, oh, oh-oh

Go down old Hannah, don'cha rise no more
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Don't you rise up til Judgment Day is for sure
Oh, oh, oh-oh

Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
Oh, oh, oh-oh
It's all been ground down to molasses
Oh, oh, oh-oh

Captain, don't you do me like you done poor old Shine
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Well ya drove that bully 'till he went stone blind
Oh, oh, oh-oh

Wake up on a lifetime, hold up your own head
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Well you may get a pardon and then you might drop dead
Oh, oh, oh-oh

Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
Oh, oh, oh-oh
It's all been ground down to molasses
Oh, oh, oh-oh

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American roots rock group that originally consisted of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals) and Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals). The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. more »

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Written by: AMY HELM, ANTHONY LEONE, BYRON ISAACS, FIONA MCBAIN, GLENN PATSCHA, UNKNOWN PD WRITER

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


8 facts about this song

Song Background
"Ain't No More Cane" is a traditional American folk song. Though officially recorded by the artists Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett and The Band, its origins are rooted in the work songs of African American prisoners in the Southern United States, primarily Texas.
Lyrical Theme
The song essentially portrays the hardships and misery of prisoners who worked in the fields cutting sugar cane. The lyrics also imply a deeply embedded commentary on the American prison system and labor conditions.
Bob Dylan's Version
Bob Dylan, known for his folk and blues influences, included his rendition of "Ain't No More Cane" on "The Basement Tapes" album. This album, released in 1975, was primarily a bootleg collection of informal recordings done in 1967, though the song was not included in the original issue.
The Band's Contribution
The Band, who played with Bob Dylan on many occasions including during his controversial 'electric' phase, also appears on Dylan's version of "Ain't No More Cane." The Basement Tapes were actually recorded in the basement of a house called 'Big Pink' where members of The Band lived.
Lyle Lovett’s Cover
Lyle Lovett, a famous country singer, covered "Ain't No More Cane" in his album "Step Inside This House" in 1998. His version stayed true to the original folk song but added his own distinctive Texas country touch to it.
Historical Popularity
Though not a mainstream commercial success, "Ain't No More Cane" has been covered by a variety of artists across several music genres, testament to its impressive longevity and cultural significance. This includes versions by Lead Belly, Robert Earl Keen, and the Texas Tornados.
Presence in Movies
The song also made its cultural impact within the film industry. A modified version of "Ain't No More Cane" was featured in the Coen Brothers' film "O Brother, Where Are Thou?" In the film, it is performed by prisoners who are working in a field, echoing the song's original historical context.
Impact on Music and Society
Embodying raw emotions and depicting the harsh realities of penal labor, "Ain't No More Cane" continues to be an important piece in the repertoire of American folk music. Its narrative offers deep insights into the life and struggles of African American prisoners in the past, enriching our understanding of American history.

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