American coal mining songs
szs...@chip.ucdavis.edu
music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
stewart james
>I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
>music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
You might start with Archie Green's fine book, Only a Miner (University of
Illinois Press.
Andy May
" writes:
> I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
> music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
>
"Fifteen Tons", he dredges out of the back of his brain. Can't remember who
it was by or any lyrics apart from the chorus
"You load 15 tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Father don't you call me 'cos I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store"
It used to be on the juke box in the bar at college, and was a great song
for singing in the bath.... :)
Anyone know what this was ?
Andy
--
*****************************************************************************
* an...@argus.demon.co.uk * .sig file in for 30,000 *
* * message service. *
*****************************************************************************
daniel r. reitman, attorney to be
An...@argus.demon.co.uk (Andy May) writes:
>"Fifteen Tons", he dredges out of the back of his brain. Can't remember who
>it was by or any lyrics apart from the chorus
>"You load 15 tons and what do you get
> Another day older and deeper in debt
> Father don't you call me 'cos I can't go
> I owe my soul to the company store"
>It used to be on the juke box in the bar at college, and was a great song
>for singing in the bath.... :)
>Anyone know what this was ?
It's by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Somewhere along the line, however, it appears to
have lost a ton. :-)
Daniel Reitman
"As heretofore stated the trial court divided the land giving that portion
north of the center line of the right of way to the owner of the land north of
it and that portion of the abandoned right of way south of the center line to
the landowner holding the land on the south. This decision of the trial court,
which has Biblical authority as precedent (I Kings, 3:25) did not satisfy the
landowner to the north." Brugman v. Bloomer, 234 Iowa 813, 13 N.W.2d 313
(1944).
ghost
In article <775068...@argus.demon.co.uk> an...@argus.demon.co.uk writes:
>In article <CtEp2...@ucdavis.edu> szs...@chip.ucdavis.edu "
>" writes:
>
>> I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
>> music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
>>
>
>"Fifteen Tons", he dredges out of the back of his brain. Can't remember who
>it was by or any lyrics apart from the chorus
>
>"You load 15 tons and what do you get
> Another day older and deeper in debt
> I owe my soul to the company store"
<doo doo
doo doo
doo doo doo doo>
>
>It used to be on the juke box in the bar at college, and was a great song
>for singing in the bath.... :)
>
>Anyone know what this was ?
That's *16* tons.
Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded the hit version; I *think* Merle Travis
wrote it or co-wrote it along with his brother, together with
"Dark as a Dungeon", the one about the "Blue Tatoo" left by the #9 coal
(or did Jean Ritchie or Hazel Dickens write that?)
& other great classics I can't remember, on that famous record of
coal-mining songs that they wrote in 29 days on commission, & that I've
never heard. (I think. I know I heard part of this information at
this year's Winterhawk, & think I heard the rest.)
1st verse:
I was born one morning in the drizzling rain
(next line has something to do with pain?)
caused a lot of grief, trouble and pain? (whatever)
& subsequently:
I was raised in the cainbrake by a momma lion
did (something impressive, like killed 20 men, or whatever)
by the time I was 9?
(lion; rhymes with 'nine')
obviously I have forgotten most of this verse;
however:
2nd verse:
When you see me coming, better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died <I love this line>
I got one fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will
(will; rhymes with 'steel')
I'll bet there's a 3rd verse, but its not coming back right now...
y'know, I *have* this on tape *somewhere*, & I think *I know where...
Other songs: Jean Ritchie's "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore"
Hal Laurent
: That's *16* tons.
: Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded the hit version; I *think* Merle Travis
: wrote it or co-wrote it along with his brother, together with
: "Dark as a Dungeon", the one about the "Blue Tatoo" left by the #9 coal
: (or did Jean Ritchie or Hazel Dickens write that?)
Merle Travis did indeed write "Sixteen Tons" as well as "Dark as a
Dungeon". The "Blue Tattoo" song, though is actually called "Coal
Tattoo", and was written by Billy Edd Wheeler.
: & other great classics I can't remember, on that famous record of
: coal-mining songs that they wrote in 29 days on commission, & that I've
: never heard. (I think. I know I heard part of this information at
: this year's Winterhawk, & think I heard the rest.)
--
============================================================================
Hal Laurent
Baltimore Maryland USA
Home: lau...@clark.net
Work: lau...@tamrc.enet.dec.com
John Lupton
>From: lau...@clark.net (Hal Laurent)
>Subject: Re: American coal mining songs
>Date: 25 Jul 1994 12:15:36 GMT
>ghost (j...@endor.harvard.edu) wrote:
>: That's *16* tons.
>: Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded the hit version; I *think* Merle Travis
>: wrote it or co-wrote it along with his brother, together with
>: "Dark as a Dungeon", the one about the "Blue Tatoo" left by the #9 coal
>: (or did Jean Ritchie or Hazel Dickens write that?)
>Merle Travis did indeed write "Sixteen Tons" as well as "Dark as a
>Dungeon". The "Blue Tattoo" song, though is actually called "Coal
>Tattoo", and was written by Billy Edd Wheeler.
>: & other great classics I can't remember, on that famous record of
>: coal-mining songs that they wrote in 29 days on commission, & that I've
>: never heard. (I think. I know I heard part of this information at
>: this year's Winterhawk, & think I heard the rest.)
Travis wrote a veritable plethora of songs related to coal mining. Around 1946
he recorded an "album" for Capitol Records (these were the days when an album
was literally that...a book containing 4-6 78rpm records) called "Folk Songs
of the Hills" which included the original recordings of "16 Tons", "Dark As A
Dungeon", and "Nine Pound Hammer" (a song which had been around in various
forms but which Travis rewrote to his own style). The other songs on this
album (though not all related to coal mining) were: "That's All", "I Am A
Pilgrim", "John Henry", "Over By Number Nine", and "Muskrat".
Around '57 or so, Capitol re-released this album with four additional songs
and re-titled it "Back Home". The four "new" songs were: "Possum Up A 'Simmon
Tree", "John Bolin", "Barbara Allen", and "Lost John"...all of which were
Travis renditions of traditional songs.
In 1963, Travis wrote and recorded an entire album, "Songs of the Coal Mines"
for Capitol. I won't list all 12 songs (none of which are as well known as,
say, "16 Tons", but represent some (IMHO) of his best work), but a couple of
examples are "Payday Comes Too Slow", "Here's To The Operator, Boys", "The
Browder Explosion", and (my personal favorite Travis song) "Bloody Breathitt
County".
How do I know all this, you ask?? Because I happen to have at my desk here for
my listening pleasure during the day a Bear Family CD re-release of all of
the above cited music, with voluminous liner notes. If you're at all
interested in Merle Travis and/or coal mining songs, I highly recommend this
CD. The catalog number is Bear Family BCD 15636 AH, Merle Travis "Folk Songs
Of The Hills".
If you're of a mind to read something in depth about coal mining's influence
on American music, find a copy of Archie Green's "Only A Miner"...lots of
interesting stuff about the history of coal mining songs, including some
discussion of Travis.
>--
>============================================================================
>Hal Laurent
>Baltimore Maryland USA
>Home: lau...@clark.net
>Work: lau...@tamrc.enet.dec.com
____________________________________________________________________________
John Lupton, LAN Specialist |Part-time Country/Bluegrass/Old Time DJ
Communications & Network Svcs |WVUD-FM 91.3 "Rural Free Delivery"
University of Pennsylvania, |University of Delaware
School of Arts & Sciences |Listener-supported, Non-commercial Radio
______________________________|_____________________________________________
alan_dunwell
>In article <CtEp2...@ucdavis.edu> szs...@chip.ucdavis.edu "
>" writes:
>
>> I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
>> music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
>>
>
>"Fifteen Tons", he dredges out of the back of his brain. Can't remember who
>it was by or any lyrics apart from the chorus
>
>"You load 15 tons and what do you get
> Another day older and deeper in debt
> Father don't you call me 'cos I can't go
>
>for singing in the bath.... :)
>
>Anyone know what this was ?
Several people have done it, but the one that was the JukeBox killer was
Tennese Ernie Ford, the man with the sub-contra-base voice, on several of his
albumes. There must be a "Best of.." out there that has it. Off the top of my
head I remember the followin:
Born one morning in the driziling rain
Fighting and trouble were my middle names
When you see me commin' better step aside
Lot of men didn't, lot of men died
Raised in a cane break by an old moma lion
When you see me commin better toe the line
I got one fist of iron and one fist of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will
Refrain:
You load 16 tons and what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store.
I think there is at least one more verse. Who knows it???
Alan Dunwell
John Lupton
>From: Alan Dunwell
>Subject: Re: American coal mining songs
Well, the original Merle Travis (he wrote the song) version is:
Some people say a man is made out of mud
But a poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bone
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
Chorus:
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine,
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
Loaded sixteen tons of Number Nine coal
And the straw boss hollered, "Well, bless my soul,"
(repeat chorus)
I was born one morning in the drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble is my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by a mama hound
I'm mean as a snake, but I'm gentle as a lamb
(repeat chorus)
If you see me comin', better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
I got a fist of iron and a fist of steel
If the right one don't get you, the left one will
(repeat chorus)
**************************************************************
Ernie Ford performed the song on a Labor Day TV show in 1955, and it was so
popular he released it as a 45 single that became a mammoth hit. Ford changed
the lyrics from:
I was raised in the canebrake by a mama hound
I'm mean as a snake, but gentle as a lamb
to:
I was raised in the canebrake by an old mama lion
Ain't no high-tone woman make me walk the line
Travis liked the change so much (it rhymed better, for one thing) that he
adopted it himself and sang Ford's version for the rest of his career.
Bob Norton
>
>Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded the hit version; I *think* Merle Travis
>wrote it or co-wrote it along with his brother, together with
>"Dark as a Dungeon", the one about the "Blue Tatoo" left by the #9 coal
>(or did Jean Ritchie or Hazel Dickens write that?)
>& other great classics I can't remember, on that famous record of
>coal-mining songs that they wrote in 29 days on commission, & that I've
>never heard. (I think. I know I heard part of this information at
>this year's Winterhawk, & think I heard the rest.)
>
This was definitely written by Merle Travis and recorded in 1947 on the same
album as Dark As A Dungeon and I Am A Pilgrim. An amazing and historic
album. Blue Tatoo was written by Billy Edd Wheeler sometime in the '60's.
Wayne E. Carson
Robert Derrick
: I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
A copy of Rise Up Singing is a good start.
Mostly in the "Mountain Voices" sections (I think that's the title), you'll
find "Dark As a Dungeon", "Springhill Mining Disaster", "Paradise",
"Voices From The Mountain", "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore",
and my personal favorite, "Draglines", about a place called Coalport, PA.
That Holly Near song is also in there, and I believe it is about the
coal mining, but I can't recall for sure.
I have lived on this mountain since first I was my mother's daughter
And you just can't take my dreams away, not with me watching
You may drive a big machine, but I was born a great big woman
And you just can't take my dreams away, not with me fighting
<and I forget the rest, but this is a power-full song!>
... and maybe many others. And that book will then point you to the albums
where these songs appear.
--
rob derrick
Carl D. Neiburger
>"Fifteen Tons", he dredges out of the back of his brain. Can't remember who
>it was by or any lyrics apart from the chorus
...
>Anyone know what this was ?
The song "Sixteen Tons" was written by Merle Travis, who grew up in a
coal-mining family. He also wrote "Dark as a Dungeon" ("... where the
rain never falls and the sun never shines; it's dark as a dungeon way
down in the mines."
Someone else in this thread suggested that "Sixteen Tons" was written by
Tennessee Ernie Ford. Although Ford recorded it, he did not write it.
-- Carl Neiburger ( ca...@netcom.com )
Steve Goldfield
by women at home. I'll check. I think it's called "Coal
Mining Women" or something like that. Jean Ritchie has some
great coal mining songs; "Black Water," about the ravages of
coal mining on the land, is one of my favorites. Another is
John Prine's "Paradise" (excellent recording by Jim and Jesse),
"Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away." I used to sing
Ewan MacColl's "Spring Hill Mining Disaster," which has a
beautiful melody. And don't forget Florence Reece's "Which
Side Are You on?" Jean Ritchie also wrote "Blue Diamond Mines,"
which is widely recorded, such as by the Johnson Mountain
Boys. Pete Seeger recorded a song about the Centralia
disaster on one of his old Folkways LPs. There are probably
hundreds (maybe thousands) of good songs on coal mining.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Steve Goldfield :<{ {>: s...@coe.berkeley.edu
University of California at Berkeley Richmond Field Station
Abby Sale
sz> I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
sz> music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
For songs and extensive background see by George Gershon Kerson. You
may wish to start with _Coal Dust on the Fiddle_ (U of PA Press; 1943)
which I recently read. Also his _Songs and ballads of the Anthracite
Miner._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: | Abby...@animece.oau.org, as...@animece.oau.org
Abby Sale | ...!ucf-cs!alfred!animece!Abby.Sale
Orlando, FL | FIDOnet: 1:363/137.0 (407) 834-6090
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abby Sale
gg> That's *16* tons.
gg> Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded the hit version; I *think* Merle Travis
gg> wrote it or co-wrote it along with his brother, together with
gg> "Dark as a Dungeon", the one about the "Blue Tatoo" left by the #9
Right the 1st time. Travis wrote both.
John Lupton
>From: s...@hera.EECS.Berkeley.EDU (Steve Goldfield)
>Subject: Re: American coal mining songs
>I think I've got an entire album of coal-mining songs sung
>by women at home. I'll check. I think it's called "Coal
>Mining Women" or something like that. Jean Ritchie has some
>great coal mining songs; "Black Water," about the ravages of
>coal mining on the land, is one of my favorites. Another is
>John Prine's "Paradise" (excellent recording by Jim and Jesse),
>"Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away." I used to sing
>Ewan MacColl's "Spring Hill Mining Disaster," which has a
>beautiful melody. And don't forget Florence Reece's "Which
>Side Are You on?" Jean Ritchie also wrote "Blue Diamond Mines,"
>which is widely recorded, such as by the Johnson Mountain
>Boys. Pete Seeger recorded a song about the Centralia
>disaster on one of his old Folkways LPs. There are probably
>hundreds (maybe thousands) of good songs on coal mining.
Steve, knowing that you're a fan of theirs, I'm surprised you didn't mention
Kate Brislin and Jody Stecher's "Shut Up In The Mines At Coal Creek"...I think
from their album "A Song That WIll Linger".
del...@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu
> I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
> music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
If you are interested in coal mining in Pennsylvania, look into the
work of George Korson. He collected a lot of material from coal
miners, both anthracite and bituminous miners, and wrote extensively
on it.
Songs and Ballads of the Anthracite Miner: A seam of folk-songs which
once ran through life in the hard coal fields of Pennsylvania.
NY:Hitchcock, 1937
Coal Dust on the Fiddle; songs and stories of the Bituminous Industry.
Phila:U of Penn. Press, 1943
Black Rock; Mining Folklore of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Includes 50
pages of folksongs and ballads.
Minstrels in the Mine Patch; songs and stories of the Anthracite
Industry.
Phila:U of Penn Press, 1938
There is also a Library of Congress American Folklife Center album
that Korson recorded in the Pennsylvanian coal fields called SONGS AND
BALLADS OF THE ANTHRACITE MINERS. You can find out if it is available
to be ordered from the LC MARVEL (the Library of Congress' Gopher).
As you can most likely tell, this is a big interest of mine too. Good
luck!
Steve Goldfield
John Lupton <jlu...@mail.sas.upenn.edu> wrote:
#>
#>Steve, knowing that you're a fan of theirs, I'm surprised you didn't mention
#>Kate Brislin and Jody Stecher's "Shut Up In The Mines At Coal Creek"...I think
#>from their album "A Song That WIll Linger".
#>
#>____________________________________________________________________________
#>John Lupton, LAN Specialist |Part-time Country/Bluegrass/Old Time DJ
#>Communications & Network Svcs |WVUD-FM 91.3 "Rural Free Delivery"
#>University of Pennsylvania, |University of Delaware
#>School of Arts & Sciences |Listener-supported, Non-commercial Radio
#>______________________________|_____________________________________________
Didn't think of that one, but you remind me of two Pete Steele
tunes (on his Folkways record), "Coal Creek March" and "Last
Payday at Coal Creek."
Patrick Ballin
ni...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu writes:
>>I'm interested in collecting American coal mining songs (words and
>>music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
Two printed collections I can recommend are:
(1) Carry it On - Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser - Blandford Press (US I
think Simon and Schuster)
ISBN 0 7137 1854 4
- great songs, lots of working class ballads including many mining songs,
lovely background and illustrations
(2) A little red Irish book called "Songs of Freedom" or something like -
sorry, I just went a-hunting and it's not to be found, if it reappears
I'll post it later on this thread. This one includes some *serious*
mining songs!
There's a lot of British material comes to mind - Steeleye Span's version
of "The Dirty Blackleg Miner" and Silly Sisters "The Old Miner" for a
start. Personally I find the most moving song of all comes from a
completely different tradition - Hugh Masakela's "Stimela". You don't get
much more gutsy than coal mining in the bad old South Africa.
Patrick Ballin pat...@roddick.demon.co.uk | You can blow out |
+44 903 731500 Applelink: BODYSHOP.DEV | a candle but you |
| can't blow out a |
These are my views, they might be the views | fire |
of The Body Shop as well but don't rely on it | - Peter Gabriel |
Andy May
drei...@oregon.uoregon.edu
"daniel r. reitman, attorney to be" writes:
> In article <775068...@argus.demon.co.uk>,
> An...@argus.demon.co.uk (Andy May) writes:
>
> >"Fifteen Tons", he dredges out of the back of his brain. Can't remember who
> >it was by or any lyrics apart from the chorus
>
> >"You load 15 tons and what do you get
> > Another day older and deeper in debt
>
> It's by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Somewhere along the line, however, it appears to
> have lost a ton. :-)
>
> Daniel Reitman
>
This is what happens when the pound devalues against the dollar :(
daniel r. reitman, attorney to be
ca...@netcom.com (Carl D. Neiburger) writes:
>Someone else in this thread suggested that "Sixteen Tons" was written by
>Tennessee Ernie Ford. Although Ford recorded it, he did not write it.
I admit my memory was a bit faulty there.
For a recent Canadian mining song, there's James Keelaghan's "Hillcrest Mine."
Gary Martin
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I think it's time to mention Dr. Joe Waldbaum's parody:
You learn 16 tunes, and what do you get?
A 3am slot with no second set
Pete Seeger, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I sold my soul for a Martin guitar
etc.
--
Gary A. Martin, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, UMass Dartmouth
Mar...@cis.umassd.edu
A J Mestel
"And this blue tattoo on the side of my head, left me by the number nine pole."
i.e. pole, not coal. Can anyone confirm one way or another?
Jonathan
A J Mestel
"Slow Down", using Travis's original words.
Why haven't I seen I.G.'s name on this newsgroup? Does anyone who's seen
and heard him not think he's in the world's top 3 singer/guitarists?
Jonathan Mestel
Nartker
Mestel) writes:
Issac Guillory,
List hie releases with source data please.
John Lupton
>From: A.J.M...@amtp.cam.ac.uk (A J Mestel)
>Subject: Re: American coal mining songs
>I thought the words from the chorus of Coal Tattoo were,
>"And this blue tattoo on the side of my head, left me by the number nine pole."
>i.e. pole, not coal. Can anyone confirm one way or another?
The phrase "Number Nine Coal" has found its way into numerous songs from
American coal mining, courtesy of Merle Travis and his references to it in
"Nine Pound Hammer" and "Sixteen Tons". Travis was born into a coal mining
family in Kentucky, and his father worked at the Number Nine mine located, if
I recall correctly, in Beech Creek, Ky. I don't recall the name of the company
that operated the mine, but "Number Nine coal" refers to the output of that
mine.
I also do not recall the medical term for the "blue tattoo", but it's a
condition caused by long-term exposure to coal dust...a blood disorder, I
think. I remember a teacher I had in junior high who had been a coal miner,
and had acquired one of these "blue tattoos"...you don't get them from being
hit by a "number nine pole".
Incidentally, since we're hovering around the subject and I'm feeling
long-winded, the meaning behind the title of Travis' "Sixteen Tons" was
explained by Archie Green in his book "Only A Miner" (which I cited in another
post on this thread). As best I recall the explanation, in the days of Travis'
youth in Kentucky a typical coal miner would load something on the order of
7-8 tons of coal per day. When a young man (a son of one of the other miners,
for example) came for his first day in the mines, the other miners would load
coal they had mined into the young man's cart until at the end of the day he
would have been credited with 16 tons...then his new comrades could go to the
straw boss and say, "He's a good 'un...did the work of two men, loaded 16
tons". Sort of a rite of passage.
____________________________________________________________________________
John Lupton, LAN Specialist |Part-time Country/Bluegrass/Old Time DJ
Communications & Network Svcs |WVUD-FM 91.3 "Rural Free Delivery"
University of Pennsylvania, |University of Delaware
School of Arts & Sciences |Listener-supported, Non-commercial Radio
______________________________|_____________________________________________
Steve Goldfield
A J Mestel <A.J.M...@amtp.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
#>I thought the words from the chorus of Coal Tattoo were,
#>
#>"And this blue tattoo on the side of my head, left me by the number nine pole."
#>
#>i.e. pole, not coal. Can anyone confirm one way or another?
#>
#> Jonathan
Number nine coal is a grade of coal so I'd think that
"pole" is unlikely. There are other songs that refer to
number nine coal, e.g., "Sixteen Tons."
S94...@umslvma.umsl.edu
including the traditional "Coalminers" ("Let's sink this capitalist system/ to
the darkest pits of hell.") If you've never heard it, you're really missing
something. It's by far one of the best American traditional folk discs in the
past few years.
later,
jeff <S94...@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU>
Susan Bulla
S> music). Does anybody have any suggestions?
Early Judy Collins had lots:
The Coming of the Roads
Coal Tattoo
Red-winged Blackbird
... I think Billy Ed Wheeler wrote a good bit about mining.
John Denver did "Muehlenburg County," I think it was.
* JABBER v1.2 * I forgot all about the Amnesia Conference!!
John Lupton
>From: ton...@knoware.nl (Ton Maas)
>Subject: Re: American coal mining song
>"Muehlenberh County" was originally written and recorded by John Prine.
Except the correct title of the song is "Paradise", not "Muhlenberg County".
Ton Maas
(Susan Bulla) wrote:
Billy Ed Wheeler actually wrote the Judy Collins songs you mentioned.
"Muehlenberh County" was originally written and recorded by John Prine.
There was another song I remember - I think it was by Tom Parrott - called
"The Sprinhill Mining Disaster".
Ton Maas, Amsterdam NL
daniel r. reitman, attorney to be
ton...@knoware.nl (Ton Maas) writes:
>"Muehlenberh County" was originally written and recorded by John Prine.
Title is "Paradise".
>There was another song I remember - I think it was by Tom Parrott - called
>"The Sprin[g]hill Mining Disaster".
I thought that was by Ewan McColl. Am I wrong?
Bruce Byfield
songs. However, if you are, try Jim Keelaghan's "Small Rebellions"
cassette for two outstanding ones: "Hillcrest Mine" and "Small
Rebellion." They're modern songs, but based on historical events.
"Hillcrest Mine" concerns the Frank Mining Disaster, and "Small
Rebellion" the 1931 strike in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
English ones are common enough, but Brian O'Neil's "Seacoal"
on Silly Wizard's "Celtic Hotel" talks about an unusual aspect of coal
mining, while his "Johnny Miner" is a lament for the decline of the
coal industry.
As for American ones, Michelle Shock has a good version of
"The L& N Don't Stop Here Any More" on "The Texas Campfire Tapes."
Bruce
byf...@sfu.ca
Patrick Ballin
discovered the book which I'd found them in. It's a little red paperback
called _Songs_of_Struggle_and_Protest_ and it was edited by John
McDonnell. ISBN 0 85342 775 5 , pub The Mercier Press, Cork & Dublin.
Excellent foreword and notes!
One of the songs in it is a brilliant traditional song called
_The_Coal_Owner_ and_The_Pitman's_Wife_, words reproduced below. The song
dates from the Duram strike of 1844
A dialogue I'll tell you as true as my life
Between a coal owner and a poor pitman's wife
As she was a walking along the highway
She met a coal owner and this did she say
Derry down down down derry down
"Good morning Lord Firedamp," this woman she said
"I'll do you no harm sire, so don't be afraid
If you'd been where I've been the most of my life
You wouldn't turn pale at a poor pitman's wife"
"Then where do you come from?" the owner he cries
"I come from Hell" the poor woman replies
"If you come from Hell then come tell me right plain
How you contrived to get out again"
"Aye the way I got out the truth I will tell
They're turning the poor folk all out of Hell
This is to make room for the rich wicked race
For there is a great number of them in that place
"And the coal owner is the next on command
To arrive in Hell, as I understand,
For I heard the old devil say as I came out
'The coal owners all had received their rout'"
"The how does the old devil behave in that place?"
"Oh sir he is cruel to that rich wicked race
He is far more crueller than that you can suppose
Even like a mad bull with a ring through his nose"
"If you be a coal owner sir take my advice
Agree with your men and give them a full price
For if and you do not I know very well
You'll be in great danger of going to Hell"
"For all you coal owners great fortunes has made
By those jovial men that works in the coal trade
Now how can you think for to prosper and thrive
By wanting to starve your poor workmen alive?"
"Good woman," said he, "I must bid you farewell
You give me a dismal account about Hell
If this be all true that you say unto me
I'll go home and with my poor men I'll agree"
So all you gay gentlemen with riches in store
Take my advice and be good to the poor
And if you do this all things will gang well
And perhaps it will save you from going to Hell
So come ye poor pitmen and join heart and hand
For when you're off work all trade's at a stand
In the town of all Newcastle all cry out amain
"Oh gin the pits were at work once again"
Well the pit gates are locked little more I've to say
I was turned out of my house on the thirteenth of May
But it's now to conclude and I'll finish my song
I hope you'll relieve me and let me carry on
A J Mestel
appears on "The Heart is True" by Pete Cooper & Peta Webb. Highly
recommended album; they mix Appalachian & Irish roots.
Jonathan
John Lupton
>From: Patrick Ballin <pat...@roddick.demon.co.uk>
>Subject: Re: American coal mining song
>Recently I posted up details of some English mining songs, since then I
>discovered the book which I'd found them in. It's a little red paperback
>called _Songs_of_Struggle_and_Protest_ and it was edited by John
>McDonnell. ISBN 0 85342 775 5 , pub The Mercier Press, Cork & Dublin.
>Excellent foreword and notes!
We've just about beaten this coal-mining song thread within an inch of its
life, but if you can stand one more example, there's a well-known song in
American folk and country music of the 20th century called "Dream of the
Miner's Child", a maudlin tale of a psychic little girl who warns her father
not to go to work at the mine that day. If you find it in a book or on record,
you'll find the authorship credited to the blind American songwriter/preacher
Andrew Jenkins, who claimed for the rest of his life after the song became
popular that he had written the lyrics entirely on his own in the
1920s...despite the fact that they were virtually identical to those of a
popular English music hall song "Don't Go Down In The Mine, Dad", a song for
which printed lyrics have been found as early as 1910, with the authors being
two well-known English songwriters of the turn-of-the-century (sorry, don't
remember their names right now). Although the tunes are different, it's
difficult to believe in looking at the lyrics that Jenkins happened by
coincidence to write the same words.
Patrick, does the book you cite above carry any mention of this??
A J Mestel
probably on the "Ballads" album. Said child dies at the rich-man's door.
Susan Bulla
A>
A> i.e. pole, not coal. Can anyone confirm one way or another?
Judy Collins Songbook has this as "coal," not pole.
* JABBER v1.2 * Multiple personality? Who, us?
Suzanne Barrett
>Hedy West did a song called "The Coal-Miner's Child" Long time ago;
>probably on the "Ballads" album. Said child dies at the rich-man's door.
I just read this thread about coalmining songs and, tho' as someone said, it'
s been beaten to death, I didn't see any mention of Dark as a Dungeon. It's
been at least thiryt years since I heard it (old Tennessee Ernie lp) so I
won't remember all the words but it starts like this:
Oh, listen you fellows so young and so fine
And seek not your fortune in the dark, dreary mine.
It will form as a habit and seep in your soul
Til the stream of your blood is as black as the coal.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where the dangers are double and pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
That's all I can remember.
Suzanne
-----
suz...@mailhub.scf.lmsc.lockheed.com
John Lupton
>From: suz...@mailhub.scf.lmsc.lockheed.com (Suzanne Barrett)
>Subject: Re: American coal mining song
Well, coming in on the tail end of the thread Suzanne, you probably didn't see
the mention of this fine Merle Travis song early on...along with "Sixteen
Tons", probably the two most widely known Travis songs.
The other verses, BTW, are:
There's many a man I've seen in my day
Who'll live just to labor his whole life away
Like a fiend with his dope, and a drunkard his wine
A man will have lust for the lure of the mine
Where it's dark as a dungeon...
I hope when I'm gone, and the ages shall roll
My body will blacken and turn into coal
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner a-diggin' my bones
Where it's dark as a dungeon...
Ton Maas
> There was another song I remember - I think it was by Tom Parrott - called
> "The Sprinhill Mining Disaster".
I was corrected: "the Springhill Mining Disaster" was written by Peggy
Seeger (wife of Ewan McCOll). Tom Parrott wrote a song about the mining
disaster in Aberfan (Wales), where a school full of children was buried
under a sliding slag heap in 1966. I don't know the title of the song,
since I no longer have the record.
Ton Maas, Amsterdam NL
APPALSEED
#9 "coal"is correct. It is a grade of coal. The "blue tatoo" cited is
somewhat of a disputed image: either a scar left by a roof fall or a sign of
too much breathing of coal dust (a common occupational hazard in deep mining)
and manifested in the inflammation of the veins in the temple area ("side of my
head.."). A physician from the coalfields could better shed light on this.
Good question and good luck!
JChapman
Piers Cawley
nine pole."
A>
A> i.e. pole, not coal. Can anyone confirm one way or another?
Judy Collins Songbook has this as "coal," not pole.
Well, the album, _They'll Never Keep Us Down; Women's Coal Minings
Songs_ has the words has 'coal' too...
--
Piers Cawley: <mailto://pdca...@iest.demon.co.uk> <phoneto://+44 245 263349>
<driveto://2, Widford Park Place, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8TB, ENGLAND
When I am sad and lonely / When I think all hope is gone
When I walk along High Holborn / I think of you with nothing on
Leneker
(Ton Maas) writes:
I have a tape that I got at a coal mine tour it is called "Last Day of the
Northern Field" and put out by Donegal weavers PO box 2820 wilkes barr PA
18703.
The tape contains local folk tune from PAs coal mines. They weren't as
good as I had hoped but they ween't bad either,
thacke...@gmail.com
hub...@ccanoemail.ca
wrote:
>It's called sixteen tons, not fifteen tons lol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen_Tons
http://www.folkarchive.de/sixteen2.html
John T.