It was 100 years ago today (22nd July) that the Tom Barton Memorial was unveiled at St. Stephens Church, Willington, County Durham.

We recorded the song "How Do You Do Tom Barton?" for our debut CD (One For Sorrow) which was released in June 2008.

It, told the story of Tom Barton who, in January 1908, had been badly injured in an ultimately vain attempt to rescue a child from a house fire in the town. Six weeks later, shortly after returning to the pit, the 19-year-old was killed in an underground accident. As well as telling the story, the song also highlighted that the memorial had been sadly neglected over the years.

We're now pleased to announce that as a result of the song, the local Community Partnership has restored the memorial, and tonght at 6:30, the memorial will be re-dedicated.

We will be performing the song at the memorial as part of the dedication, and afterwards will take part in a (free) concert in the church along with the Brancepeth and Aycliffe Brass Band.

All are welcome to attend.

The (9 minute) song can be heard on our MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/brothercrowfolk ), and the lyrics are duplicated below.

HOW DO YOU DO TOM BARTON?

The street was cold with winter,
The shadows hunched deep and dark,
The world stood silently waiting,
All it needed was the spark,
The fire was bright and hungry,
It exhaled darkness as it grew,
And the fearful cries of the children,
Was the first that anyone knew.

He was walking home when he heard those cries,
Saw the flames and smelled the smoke,
He put his shoulder to the door,
The fire kissed him when it broke,
Inside was as dark as a pit shaft,
The smoke burned inside his throat,
The fire was happy to embrace him,
It clawed and tore at his coat.

Chorus:
And how do you do Tom Barton,
How did it feel to step into those flames,
Now the words are shallow and wind-worn,
And no one remembers your name,
What do you think Tom Barton,
Are our lives mapped out in the stars,
What would you have done if you'd known that,
You had six weeks to live with the scars.

The children cried out from the darkness,
From their room at the back of the house,
Their mother and father tried to reach them,
But the fire drove them both out,
But Tom battled in deeper,
His flesh blistered and torn by the heat,
But he wouldn't accept any failure,
No he would not consider defeat.

Chorus

He reached the room at the back of the house,
From beyond it now, nobody cried,
So he put his full weight against it,
But it wouldn't let him inside,
And the fire built a wall up against him,
Forcing him back with each breath he'd take,
Until he found himself on the cold street,
Inside he could feel his heart break.

Six weeks go by and the scars heal,
In his flesh if not in his heart,
So goes back to work in the darkness,
'til a rock-fall breaks him apart.

So they laid him to rest in the churchyard,
Everyone gave towards the stone,
The mayor came down to the service,
Now he lies there forgotten, unknown.

Chorus x2