My Pa started mining coal in the '20s as a youngster in Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. He had maybe 6 years education. He was, as a 17 year old., the 10,000 strong protest march, led by the Kurri Kurri pipe band, after the police killed miner Norman Brown in '29 at the Rothbury pit. Imagine the sight of those fine men, 10,000 of them. We will likely never see such tough workers again. Remember them. Solidarity. Workers of the world are brothers and sisters. By Schiller in german: Alle menschen werden bruder.
Let us all help to speed the day when this wonderful earth and its rich resources are held in common for the benefit of all humanity. One race the Human Race.
Toranaboy634 - I looked after a lovely lady from the Welsh valleys whose father was a miner and involved in Union issues from early on. She told me that the work her father did was so physically destructive that herself and her younger sister would have to go to the pit entrance to fetch him home each day: years of spending every day bent double and standing in water had led to him having to be literally carried home; they would each take an arm and drag him back home - they were young teenagers at the time. My point is that whilst I agree that we should celebrate the amazing bravery of these men and women (remember women also worked down the pits - and children too), and their solidarity in rising up against oppression, we should be careful not to glorify the work itself.
Actually the first time I heard this song was on a programme on the BBC early on a Saturday morning. The programme was for kids and used the song to try to explain the strikes and bitterness that came from them. The song stuck in my head till I heard RT dong this.
I worked in mines in Northumberland between 1968 and 1972. The Seghill mine headgear was still in place at that time, although the mine had closed. I sometimes perform this song myself.
This ex miner thanks this great artist for his valuable work. One day it will touch someone who can make a real diference to the lives of ordinary people.
I remember hearing this song when i was a kid as part of an educational history thing on bbc alway stayed with me and now i find this version. fantastic stuff
Steeleye Span did a great version of this song way way back on their “Hark the Village Wait” album. The album they recorded with Gay and Terry Woods. Terry had earlier played with “Sweeney’s Men” and later went on to join “The Pogues”.
actually, i agree with you. folk music is always limited in school curricula and usually to stuff that nobody could possibly really like. and it puts people off folk music for life.
Marvelous version on "The blackleg miner" first heard Gay and Terry Woods do it with "The Woods Band" way back when, strong and all as their version was Thompsons version is far better. It's great to hear him do it live, having said that nearly everything is great to hear Thompson do live.
The song originated in County Durham, England, the locations of Seaton-Delaval and Seghill are mentioned as are gruesome punishments for the strike-breaking miner at those places. The song was written in Northumbrian dialect, perhaps as far back as 1844 but there have been many strikes since then. A hundred years later it was sung on the picket lines in the strike of 1984-85. BTW: The Seaton Delavel mine closed in 1960 and Seghill in 1965 over a century after the song is supposed to have appeared.
Seghill and Seaton-Delaval were in Northumberland when I was working up there digging coal. The Seghill pithead gear was still in place circa 1969 and I lived quite close. My address was No 1 Old Moor Shaft Cottage.
Galway Girl is pure pastiche. There must be something 'right place, right time' to explain Ed Sheeran's superstar status because he'd if he'd started in 1970 he'd have had to give up the busking and get a proper job!
I commented on that 2 years ago, I guess I should have said...Isn't Galway Girl a rip off of this ...And yes you absolutely right about ES...When I listened to Mumford & Sons or as I like to call them ..Twats with Banjos I thought almost the same thing..
I've been listening to Thompson sing for over 40 years and thats the way he always sounds not sure what you are on about. Terry and Gay Woods did a really great version of this was back when he had just left Sweeneys Men God alone knows when that was very early 70's
!["The Blackleg Miner" - Northern English Folk Song [+Lyrics]](/img/1.gif)
Richard Thompson makes me smile and want to cry....he is amazing!
My Pa started mining coal in the '20s as a youngster in Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. He had maybe 6 years education. He was, as a 17 year old., the 10,000 strong protest march, led by the Kurri Kurri pipe band, after the police killed miner Norman Brown in '29 at the Rothbury pit. Imagine the sight of those fine men, 10,000 of them. We will likely never see such tough workers again. Remember them. Solidarity. Workers of the world are brothers and sisters. By Schiller in german: Alle menschen werden bruder.
Interestingly many of the foremen were worse then the bosses. They truly drove the men into the black grave.
Let us all help to speed the day when this wonderful earth and its rich resources are held in common for the benefit of all humanity. One race the Human Race.
You're that tough, sir, you just need a cause.
Toranaboy634 - I looked after a lovely lady from the Welsh valleys whose father was a miner and involved in Union issues from early on. She told me that the work her father did was so physically destructive that herself and her younger sister would have to go to the pit entrance to fetch him home each day: years of spending every day bent double and standing in water had led to him having to be literally carried home; they would each take an arm and drag him back home - they were young teenagers at the time.
My point is that whilst I agree that we should celebrate the amazing bravery of these men and women (remember women also worked down the pits - and children too), and their solidarity in rising up against oppression, we should be careful not to glorify the work itself.
Actually the first time I heard this song was on a programme on the BBC early on a Saturday morning. The programme was for kids and used the song to try to explain the strikes and bitterness that came from them. The song stuck in my head till I heard RT dong this.
saw steeleye play this in the midst of the miners strike against thatcher. I defy anyone who was there to tell me folk music has no relevance!
I worked in mines in Northumberland between 1968 and 1972. The Seghill mine headgear was still in place at that time, although the mine had closed. I sometimes perform this song myself.
Glück auf! Greetings to all Miners.
A special thanks to all the significant others of the brave men. You keep them grounded - or better "uplifted"
This ex miner thanks this great artist for his valuable work. One day it will touch someone who can make a real diference to the lives of ordinary people.
Can't think of many people who work as hard as miners. Good song
Fraternal greetings from an ex Durham coal miner. workers of all lands unite.
Love this performance.
This is an incredible rendition of a traditional song.
I remember hearing this song when i was a kid as part of an educational history thing on bbc alway stayed with me and now i find this version. fantastic stuff
Great stuff and that "1000 years of Popular music" should be on the school crariculam
Enjoyed listenin'!!
Steeleye Span did a great version of this song way way back on their “Hark the Village Wait” album. The album they recorded with Gay and Terry Woods. Terry had earlier played with “Sweeney’s Men” and later went on to join “The Pogues”.
actually, i agree with you. folk music is always limited in school curricula and usually to stuff that nobody could possibly really like. and it puts people off folk music for life.
As far as I recall, industrial folk music doesn't figure in school curricula.......Cecil Sharp and Vaughan Williams were barely aware of it!
Marvelous version on "The blackleg miner" first heard Gay and Terry Woods do it with "The Woods Band" way back when, strong and all as their version was Thompsons version is far better. It's great to hear him do it live, having said that nearly everything is great to hear Thompson do live.
The song originated in County Durham, England, the locations of Seaton-Delaval and Seghill are mentioned as are gruesome punishments for the strike-breaking miner at those places.
The song was written in Northumbrian dialect, perhaps as far back as 1844 but there have been many strikes since then.
A hundred years later it was sung on the picket lines in the strike of 1984-85.
BTW: The Seaton Delavel mine closed in 1960 and Seghill in 1965 over a century after the song is supposed to have appeared.
1844 miners ;lockout I think is its origins
Ryans fancy sing a good version.
Seghill and Seaton-Delaval were in Northumberland when I was working up there digging coal. The Seghill pithead gear was still in place circa 1969 and I lived quite close. My address was No 1 Old Moor Shaft Cottage.
@Frostfizz You lucky so-and-so.
Anyone else think this sounds a bit like Galway girl...
Galway Girl is pure pastiche. There must be something 'right place, right time' to explain Ed Sheeran's superstar status because he'd if he'd started in 1970 he'd have had to give up the busking and get a proper job!
I commented on that 2 years ago, I guess I should have said...Isn't Galway Girl a rip off of this ...And yes you absolutely right about ES...When I listened to Mumford & Sons or as I like to call them ..Twats with Banjos I thought almost the same thing..
Trouble with folk singers is that they put on folky accents & ruin a good song.
I've been listening to Thompson sing for over 40 years and thats the way he always sounds not sure what you are on about.
Terry and Gay Woods did a really great version of this was back when he had just left Sweeneys Men God alone knows when that was very early 70's
terri purcell
fucking hell your abit behind the times arnt you? not found any different music? boring
Considering it's a song over 100 years old, still don't really get your problem.
If you don't like it don't listen to it
SixString Samurai
there isnt a British or English accent
+Benn Yisrael You're a tool