Hamilton Ironworks is John Hartford's last album, recorded before his death in 2001.

The title track is a traditional Ozarks tune referring to an old mine in Meramec State Park, Missouri.

[1] Writing for Allmusic, critic Jesse Jarnow wrote "There are few concessions given to modernity, and, while bringing his own distinct voice to the tunes, Hartford is clearly aware of the historical stream he occupies, coming off as both a devoted scholar and respectful practitioner.

"[2] John Lupton of Country Standard Time wrote the album "highlights the fact that he was primarily a fiddler, and a damn good one... while the acceptance of fiddle and banjo music has long been at the mercy of producers with little or no concept of the music's dynamics, Carlin demonstrates exceptionally that in the hands of someone who understands what the music's about, it equals anything Nashville or L.A. has to offer.

It’s worth noting that what some commonly refer to and often disparage as “political correctness” is seen by others as deeply offensive, as in the case of this song’s original title.