Clap Hands Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Sane, sane, they’re all insane
Fireman’s blind, the conductor is lame
Cincinnati jacket and a sad look dame
Hanging out the window with a bottle full of rain
[Chorus]
Clap hands, clap your hands
Clap hands
Roar roar the thunder and the roar
Sumbitch is never comin’ back here no more
Moon in the window with a bird on a pole
We can always find a millionaire to shovel all the coal
Clap hands, clap hands
Clap your hands, clap hands
I said steam, steam
A hundred bad dreams
Goin’ up to harlem with a pistol in his jeans
Fifty dollar bill inside a Paladin’s hat
Ain’t nobody sure where Mr. Knickerbocker’s at
[Chorus]
Roar roar the thunder and the roar
Sumbitch is nevеr comin’ back here no more
Moon in thе window with a bird on a pole
We can always find a millionaire to shovel all the coal
Clap hands, clap hands
Clap your hands, clap hands
I said steam, steam
A hundred bad dreams
Goin’ up to harlem with a pistol in his jeans
Fifty dollar bill inside a Paladin’s hat
Ain’t nobody sure where Mr. Knickerbocker’s at
[Bridge]
Shine, shine, Roosevelt dime
All the way to Baltimore, runnin’ out of time
Salvation army seemed to wind up in a hole
They all went to heaven in a little row boat
[Outro]
Clap hands, clap your hands
Clap hands, clap your hands
Clap hands, clap hands
Clap hands, clap your hands
Clap hands, clap hands
Summary of this Song Lyrics
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Eric Church’s “Clap Hands” song paint a surreal and fragmented portrait of a gritty, dreamlike urban landscape. Delivered in a rhythmic, chant-like style, the song blends strange imagery, jazz-influenced phrasing, and street-level storytelling.
The verses introduce us to an off-kilter world where everyone seems a little mad—“sane, sane, they’re all insane.” Characters like a blind fireman and a lame conductor hint at a dysfunctional environment. A woman with a “Cincinnati jacket” and a bottle of rain adds to the moody, noir atmosphere. These vivid, unusual characters underscore themes of disillusionment and chaos.
The chorus repeats the phrase “clap hands,” almost like a hypnotic mantra or call to attention, contrasted with the ominous lines “roar roar the thunder and the roar” and “sumbitch is never coming back here no more.” These phrases suggest danger, abandonment, or the finality of a one-way journey. The imagery of a moonlit window and a millionaire shoveling coal highlights the song’s surreal, ironic commentary on class and fate.
Throughout, there are references to urban life and shadowy figures—someone with “a hundred bad dreams” heading to Harlem, armed and possibly dangerous. A Paladin’s hat hides a fifty-dollar bill, adding a touch of mystery and old-world drama. The elusive “Mr. Knickerbocker” remains lost or forgotten.
The bridge invokes a “Roosevelt dime” and the Salvation Army, hinting at poverty and lost causes. The final line—“they all went to heaven in a little row boat”—echoes old folk and spiritual traditions, suggesting escape or death.
Overall, the song presents a poetic, fragmented view of the underside of American life, filled with strange beauty, danger, and dark humor. It’s less a narrative than a jazz-like improvisation on decay, survival, and faded dreams.
[Note: Every song Summary we share or publish in this website only depend on lyrics analysis, not from Artist own perspective.]
Album – Evangeline vs. The Machine [Tracklist]
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1. Hands Of Time
2. Bleed On Paper
3. Johnny
4. Storm In Their Blood
5. Darkest Hour
6. Evangeline
7. Rocket’s White Lincoln
8. Clap Hands
Clap Hands (MV)
Available Soon
Audio Credits & Details
Artist : Eric Church
Album : Evangeline vs. The Machine
Lyricist : Eric Church, Tom Waits
Musicians : Jay Joyce
Label : EMI Records
Genre: Country
Released On: May 2, 2025
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