☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics tell the story of the gaugers who used to work on the Mississippi riverboats.
- Mark Twain revolutionized the gauger industry by shortening the phrase 'Marking on the twine is four fathoms' to 'Mark Twain' and including stories about his everyday life.
- The verses in the song lyrics are humorous and show the life and humor of the gaugers.
- There is a warning to the captain to be careful and avoid damaging the boat.
- Overall, the song lyrics tell the story of the gaugers and their contribution to navigation on the Mississippi.
Interpretation
In the lyrics of the song 'Mark Twain' by
Harry Belafonte, it is about the history of the gaugers who used to work on the Mississippi riverboats. The gaugers had the task of throwing a thread with a piece of lead into the river and then determining the water depth based on the markings on the thread.
In the past, the gaugers would say 'Marking on the twine is four fathoms' to communicate the water depth to the captain. But then came a little man called Mark Twain and revolutionized the entire gauger industry. He shortened the phrase to 'Mark Twain' and added small stories about himself and his everyday life between the markings on the thread.
The song lyrics contain various verses in which the gaugers tell their experiences. They talk about their friends, their work on the river, and their life in general. The verses are humorous and show the life and humor of the gaugers.
The lyrics also include a warning to the captain to be careful not to collide with something and damage his boat. It is said: 'Look out skipper, pull it to the side, you gonna bust your bow and split your hide'.
Overall, the song lyrics tell the story of the gaugers and their contribution to navigation on the Mississippi. It also shows the influence of Mark Twain on the gauger industry and how he shortened the phrase 'Marking on the twine'. The lyrics are humorous and give us an insight into the lives of the people who worked on the river.