--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork…" description: "\"Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork and a pan, and if you say anything about it, you're in trouble with the man.\" — Lead Belly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg" --- # Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork and a pan, and if… ![“Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork and a pan, and if you say anything about it, you're in trouble with the man.” quote by Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg) > “Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork and a pan, and if you say anything about it, you're in trouble with the man.” [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warning that questioning authority can bring danger from those in power. **In simple terms:** Questioning authority can be risky. Key Takeaway Beware speaking against those in charge. Themes authority danger conformity Mood cautious serious Type advice warning When to use this quote - workplace - political activism - family disputes Key Concepts power dynamics social control Questions to Reflect On - When is it safe to challenge authority? - How can you protect yourself when speaking out? A Different Perspective Risk may be mitigated by strategic communication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club, they'd starve to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/if-a-lot-of-people-gripped-a-knife-and-fork-the-way-they-do-a-golf/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [“Don’t trust the cannibal just ’cos he’s usin’ a knife and fork!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/don-t-trust-the-cannibal-just-cos-he-s-usin-a-knife-and-fork/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“dig your grave with your knife and fork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-clark/dig-your-grave-with-your-knife-and-fork/) Nancy Clark > [Give your kids a bloody knife and fork and let me put some fresh food in front of them they can eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/give-your-kids-a-bloody-knife-and-fork-and-let-me-put-some-fresh-food/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [There are major C.E.O.'s who do not know how to hold a knife and fork properly, but I don't worry about that as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-baldrige/there-are-major-c-e-o-s-who-do-not-know-how-to-hold-a-knife-and-fork/) [Letitia Baldrige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-baldrige/) > [The more trouble you get a man into, the more comedy you get out of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-lloyd/the-more-trouble-you-get-a-man-into-the-more-comedy-you-get-out-of-him/) [Harold Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-lloyd/) > [“I had three long conversations with Marusya over a cup of coffee. She told me her whole rather silly story. To some degree we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-dovlatov/i-had-three-long-conversations-with-marusya-over-a-cup-of-coffee-she/) [Sergei Dovlatov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-dovlatov/) > [The things I never say never get me into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-things-i-never-say-never-get-me-into-trouble/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The Irish say your trouble is their trouble and your joy their joy? 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Some people say they are for you but when trouble comes their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/pay-attention-to-what-people-do-as-opposed-to-what-they-say-some/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [They say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/they-say-when-trouble-comes-close-ranks-and-so-the-white-people-did/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [It seems to me, though, that you always understand very well what I can't say very well. Trouble is I end up being even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-seems-to-me-though-that-you-always-understand-very-well-what-i-can/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Is it progress if a cannibal uses a knife and fork?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-it-progress-if-a-cannibal-uses-a-knife-and-fork/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lead Belly > [Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he'll carry you down and if the jury finds you guilty, penitentiary bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/sheriff-benson-will-arrest-you-he-ll-carry-you-down-and-if-the-jury/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [An'he taken him to de white house. He was six weeks a-pickin. Lordy, your wife an'my wife, Oh, they give a feather pickin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/an-he-taken-him-to-de-white-house-he-was-six-weeks-a-pickin-lordy/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Yonder come little Rosie, how in the world do you know. I can tell her by her apron, and the dress she wore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/yonder-come-little-rosie-how-in-the-world-do-you-know-i-can-tell-her/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [It was down in Louisiana. Just a mile from. Texarkana In them old cotton fields back home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/it-was-down-in-louisiana-just-a-mile-from-texarkana-in-them-old/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Well, along come a grey goose. Well, he throwed it to his shoulder, An' he ram his hammer' way back. Well, he pulled on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-along-come-a-grey-goose-well-he-throwed-it-to-his-shoulder-an-he/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Well you wake up in the morning, hear the ding dong ring. You go a-marching to the table, see the same damn thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-hear-the-ding-dong-ring-you-go-a/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Let the midnight special, shine her light on me. Let the midnight special, shine her ever-loving light on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/let-the-midnight-special-shine-her-light-on-me-let-the-midnight/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Last Saturday night, I got married, me and my wife settled down. Now me and my wife are parted, I'm gonna take another stroll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/last-saturday-night-i-got-married-me-and-my-wife-settled-down-now-me/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Ain't it a shame to beat your wife on Sunday. When you got Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Oh, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/ain-t-it-a-shame-to-beat-your-wife-on-sunday-when-you-got-monday/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Mary an' the baby lyin' in the shade. Thinkin' on the money I ain't made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/mary-an-the-baby-lyin-in-the-shade-thinkin-on-the-money-i-ain-t-made/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Well your hair don't curve and your eyes ain't blue. Well if you don't want me, polly Ann Well I don't want you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-your-hair-don-t-curve-and-your-eyes-ain-t-blue-well-if-you-don-t/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Moses stood on the Red Sea shore. Smotin' that water with a two-by-four. If I could I surely would. Stand on the rock where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/moses-stood-on-the-red-sea-shore-smotin-that-water-with-a-two-by-four/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, little star. Up comes Brady in a 'lectric car. Got a mean look all 'round his eye. Gonna shoot somebody jus'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/twinkle-twinkle-twinkle-little-star-up-comes-brady-in-a-lectric-car/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Duncan, Duncan was tending the bar. In walked Brady with a shining star and Brady says, Duncan you are under arrest and Duncan shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/duncan-duncan-was-tending-the-bar-in-walked-brady-with-a-shining-star/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) > [Ain't it a shame to go fishin on a Sunday. Ain't it a shame. Ain't it a shame to go fishin on a Sunday.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/ain-t-it-a-shame-to-go-fishin-on-a-sunday-ain-t-it-a-shame-ain-t-it-a/) [Lead Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) [Explore all 30 Lead Belly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/) ## More Knife quotes > [“Next time," I said wryly, swinging open the door, "just give me a knife and ask for a vein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/next-time-i-said-wryly-swinging-open-the-door-just-give-me-a-knife/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“The cold cut like a many bladed knife”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-zangwill/the-cold-cut-like-a-many-bladed-knife/) [Israel Zangwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-zangwill/) > [I'm still stupid. I still do what I'm not supposed to do. Are you serious? I'm Jake 'The Snake,' man. I never claimed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/i-m-still-stupid-i-still-do-what-i-m-not-supposed-to-do-are-you/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) > [“If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/if-you-are-a-big-eater-put-a-knife-to-your-throat/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [“Sharp like a spoon, that one. Anyway,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/sharp-like-a-spoon-that-one-anyway/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“There was never a good knife made of bad steel ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/there-was-never-a-good-knife-made-of-bad-steel/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Power is like a knife. It can be used to cut bread to share with your neighbor or stab you in the back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/power-is-like-a-knife-it-can-be-used-to-cut-bread-to-share-with-your/) [Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/) > [“Tobiah was Black Knife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-meadows/tobiah-was-black-knife/) [Jodi Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-meadows/) > [“Anger dulls the blade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hollow/anger-dulls-the-blade/) Hollow > [What is that in his hand?" "A cleaver. As in-" "Butcher's knife." "You got it." "I hope not." "He does not look happy." "Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-pearson/what-is-that-in-his-hand-a-cleaver-as-in-butcher-s-knife-you-got-it-i/) [Ridley Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-pearson/) > [“I have a knife in my hand, slicing beef on the willowware plate, and I cut harder, faster, thinking it is your pink neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-turner/i-have-a-knife-in-my-hand-slicing-beef-on-the-willowware-plate-and-i/) Ann Turner > [Blood fills my mouth. Fire sears my veins. I choke back a howl. The silver knife slips--the choice is mine. I am death or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/blood-fills-my-mouth-fire-sears-my-veins-i-choke-back-a-howl-the/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Remember, it is never the knife's fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boulud/remember-it-is-never-the-knife-s-fault/) [Daniel Boulud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boulud/) > [Sorry, the knife just slipped, I didn't mean to cut my wrists. I was just thinking of all the bad things that happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-the-knife-just-slipped-i-didn-t-mean-to-cut-my-wrists-i-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't try to hug me with one hand when your hiding a knife in the other. If your gonna take a stab at me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brii-ann/don-t-try-to-hug-me-with-one-hand-when-your-hiding-a-knife-in-the/) [Brii Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brii-ann/) Browse all 577 Knife quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork and a pan, and if you say anything about it, you're in trouble with the man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lead Belly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-and-a-pan-and-if-you-say/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knife" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-and-a-pan-and-if-you-say/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/lead-belly-20593_quote_well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-an_1714717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, it's on a one table, knife, a fork and a pan, and if you say anything about it, you're in trouble with…” — Lead Belly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lead Belly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lead-belly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Well, it's on a one table,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-and-a-pan-and-if-you-say/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lead-belly/well-it-s-on-a-one-table-knife-a-fork-and-a-pan-and-if-you-say/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```