Hard Hat And A Hammer – Alan Jackson

Introduction:

“Hard Hat and a Hammer” is a song by Alan Jackson, released in 2010 as part of his album Freight Train. Written by Jackson himself, the track serves as a tribute to the hardworking blue-collar workers who keep the country running. The song praises the everyday laborers—construction workers, miners, firemen, and others—who wear hard hats and use hammers, highlighting the importance of their often-underappreciated contributions.

The music video for “Hard Hat and a Hammer” was shot on location across various industrial sites, featuring real workers in industries like mining and shipbuilding. Directed by Theresa Wingert, the video showcases the strength and determination of these workers, with scenes filmed in places such as shipyards in Alabama and fire stations in Tennessee. This theme reflects Jackson’s respect for working-class Americans, tying back to his own humble roots​.

The song fits within Jackson’s broader career focus on authenticity and storytelling, celebrating traditional American values. It’s an “easygoing ode to the working man,” and its release coincided with a benefit concert he held for miners and rescue workers, following the tragic Upper Big Branch mining disaster​. The track was well-received for its sincerity and connection to Jackson’s own background, resonating deeply with his audience.

Video:

Lyrics:

“Hard Hat And A Hammer”

Lace-up boots and faded jeans
A homemade sandwich, a half jug of tea
Average Joe, average pay
Same ol’ end and same ol’ dayBut there’s nothing wrong with a hard hat and a hammer
Kind of glue that sticks this world together
Hands of steel and cradle of the Promised Land
God bless the working man

All week long making a living
Life keeps takin’, he keeps giving
Behind the scene, below the grade
Hardly noticed but part of everything

But there’s nothing wrong with a hard hat and a hammer
Kind of glue that sticks this world together
Hands of steel and cradle of the Promised Land
God bless the working man

He gives his life then fades away
Another young man takes his place
Average Joe, average pay
Same ol end, same old’ day

But there’s nothing wrong with a hard hat and a hammer
Kind of glue that sticks this world together
Hands of steel and cradle of the Promised Land

No, there’s nothing wrong with a hard hat and a hammer
Kind of glue that sticks this world together
Hands of steel and cradle of the Promised Land
God bless the working man

The working man
Oh, the working man and woman