Ain't No More Cane
Encyclopedia
"Ain't No More Cane" is a traditional prison work song of the American south. The title refers to work assigned to prisoners sentenced to hard labor in Texas - to cut 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 Leadbelly
, Son Volt
, and by The Band
on the album The Basement Tapes
. Bob Dylan
also performed the song live in the early 1960s and his version is on multiple bootleg recordings taken from The Gaslight Cafe. In 2006, Band of Heathens
with their distinctive arrangement included it on their Live at Momo's album. In 2007 Lyle Lovett
released two versions of the tune on his album It's Not Big, It's Large. On February 16, 2008, Lovett and John Hiatt
performed the song live at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston, New York, along with The Band's Garth Hudson
.
"Ain't No More Cane" is featured also in the film Festival Express
, in which Rick Danko
, Janis Joplin
, Jerry Garcia
, Bob Weir
, and various other musicians drunkenly sing it on the train going to the next concert on the tour.
The song, as "Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos", was also covered by the singer Ian Gillan
of Deep Purple
fame for his 1990 solo-album Naked Thunder
. The Chad Mitchell Trio recorded the song on their 1963 album "Singin' our Mind". Other covers include The Black Crowes
. Chris Smithers also covered "No More Cane on The Brazos" on his 1998 CD, "Happier Blue". Bill Staines
recorded the song on his 1975 album "Miles."
It was also covered by Lonnie Donnegan in 1958. Coved by Canadian band "Crowbar" on "Larger than Life (And Live'r than You've Ever Been)" (1971, Daffodil 2-SBA-16007) (recorded in concert at Massey Hall, Toronto)
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
, where many of the state's prison farms were located in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
It has been recorded by Leadbelly
Leadbelly
Huddie William Ledbetter was an iconic American folk and blues musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced....
, Son Volt
Son Volt
Son Volt is an alternative country group formed by Jay Farrar in 1994 after the breakup of the band Uncle Tupelo.-History:The group formed after Farrar met Jim and Dave Boquist during the final Uncle Tupelo tour. Together with former Uncle Tupelo drummer Mike Heidorn, the band rehearsed and...
, and by The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
on the album The Basement Tapes
The Basement Tapes
The Basement Tapes is a 1975 studio album by Bob Dylan and The Band. The songs featuring Dylan's vocals were recorded in 1967, eight years before the album's release, at houses in and around Woodstock, New York, where Dylan and the Band lived...
. Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
also performed the song live in the early 1960s and his version is on multiple bootleg recordings taken from The Gaslight Cafe. In 2006, Band of Heathens
Band of Heathens
The Band of Heathens are an American Rock and Roll band from Austin, Texas.The three principal songwriters - Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist - shared the bill at Momo's, an Austin club. Originally, each singer/songwriter performed his own set. However, they eventually started sharing the...
with their distinctive arrangement included it on their Live at Momo's album. In 2007 Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Pearce Lovett is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man"...
released two versions of the tune on his album It's Not Big, It's Large. On February 16, 2008, Lovett and John Hiatt
John Hiatt
John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
performed the song live at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston, New York, along with The Band's Garth Hudson
Garth Hudson
Eric Garth Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist. As the organist, keyboardist and saxophonist for Canadian-American rock group The Band, he was a principal architect of the group's unique sound...
.
"Ain't No More Cane" is featured also in the film Festival Express
Festival Express
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the eponymous 1970 train tour across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends...
, in which Rick Danko
Rick Danko
Richard Clare "Rick" Danko was a Canadian musician and singer, best known as a member of The Band.-Early years :...
, Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
, and various other musicians drunkenly sing it on the train going to the next concert on the tour.
Lyrics
The lyrics to Leadbelly's version, also used by the Band, are as follows:- Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
- It's all been ground down to molasses
- You shoulda been on the river in 1910
- They were driving the women just like they drove the men.
- Go down Old Hannah, don'cha rise no more
- Don't you rise up til Judgment Day's for sure
- Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
- It's all been ground down to molasses
- Captain don't you do me like you done poor old Shine
- Well ya drove that bully til he went stone blind
- Wake up on a lifetime, hold up your own head
- Well you may get a pardon and then you might drop dead
- Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
- It's all been ground down to molasses.
The song, as "Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos", was also covered by the singer Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
of Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
fame for his 1990 solo-album Naked Thunder
Naked Thunder
Naked Thunder is a 1990 solo album by Ian Gillan, released soon after his departure from Deep Purple in 1989. It features a varied selection of songs, with one of Gillan's most passionate and impressive performances in "Loving on Borrowed Time" and "No More Cane on the Brazos", a traditional tune...
. The Chad Mitchell Trio recorded the song on their 1963 album "Singin' our Mind". Other covers include The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
. Chris Smithers also covered "No More Cane on The Brazos" on his 1998 CD, "Happier Blue". Bill Staines
Bill Staines
Bill Staines is an American folk musician and singer-songwriter from New England, who writes and performs in a traditional vein. He has also written and recorded children's songs....
recorded the song on his 1975 album "Miles."
It was also covered by Lonnie Donnegan in 1958. Coved by Canadian band "Crowbar" on "Larger than Life (And Live'r than You've Ever Been)" (1971, Daffodil 2-SBA-16007) (recorded in concert at Massey Hall, Toronto)