Gandy dancer is a slang term for workers who maintained railroads in North America. For each stroke, a worker would lift his gandy (a long handled tool) and force it into the ballast to create a fulcrum, then throw himself sideways using the gandy to check his full weight (making the "huh" sound recorded in the lyrics below) so the gandy would push the rail toward the inside of the curve. Even with all impacts from the work crew timed correctly, any progress made in shifting the track would not become visible until after a large number of repetitions.

(source: Wiki)

Rhythm was necessary for this process, both to synchronize the manual labor, and to maintain the morale of workers whose exertions produced only a minuscule effect; hence "gandy dancers". The songs sung in this occupation have been recognized as a major influence on later blues music

My father was a gandy dancer on the railroad.

gandy dancer by 'nash October 2, 2009

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Gandy Dancer

Homophobic slur frequently used by members of the alt right.

Did you see what Gary was wearing today? What a gandy dancer.

Gandy Dancer by Seigfreud September 28, 2019

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Gandy Dancer

Swing low, sweet chariot song of Gandy Dancers

Mississippi Gandy Dancer takes teamwork cus they move heavy metal. Yo Doggs we gots Gandy Dancers in Los Angeles cus we move to dah heavy metal blues man..

Gandy Dancer by sinbad_duke_of_east_los May 10, 2007

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