The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #86542   Message #1616621
Posted By: Artful Codger
29-Nov-05 - 04:09 PM
Thread Name: Luddites & Mill Song
Subject: RE: Luddites & Mill Song
Would a song about the Croppers (slightly post-Luddite--1820's-30's) do? If so, here's "Cropper Lads", which I only found in abbreviated form in other Mudcat threads. This version is from Lou & Sally Killen's LP "Bright, Shining Morning".

THE CROPPER LADS

Come Cropper lads of high renown
Who like to drink strong ale that's brown
And strike each haughty tyrant down
With hatchet, pike and gun!

(Chorus:)
O the Cropper lads for me, (my lads)
Gallant lads they be!
With lusty stroke
The shear frames broke.
The Cropper lads for me!

What, though the Specials still advance
And troopers lightly round us prance,
Us Cropper lads still lead the dance
With hatchet, pike and gun.
(Chorus)

And when at night, when all is still
And the moon is hid behind yon hill,
We still advance to do our will
With hatchet, pike and gun.
(Chorus)

Great Enoch still shall lead our van--
Stop him who dare, stop him who can.
Step forward, every gallant man,
With hatchet, pike and gun.
(Chorus)