The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw-child miner

Subject: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Dave Brennan
Date: 17 Aug 97 - 11:41 PM

I heard this song only once. I think it's fairly modern, about an interview of a gentleman with a female coal miner. The last line goes, something like, "Thank you, Sir. At least you tried." Another line goes, "Great big musles on my neck....."

Any help is appreciated

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 18 Aug 97 - 03:42 AM

"The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw". Don't know who wrote it. Don't think I have a recording or anything but I'll have a look. Don't hold your breath.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From:
Date: 18 Aug 97 - 03:50 AM

Looks like we're working on this at the same time, Alan. I think you're right. My guess is that it was the Sojourner Truth "Ain't I a Woman?" speech, but the Patience Kershaw song is closer to what was requested.
Here's the Sojourner Truth speech:
http://www.digitalsojourn.org/speech.html
Priscilla Herdman did a musical rendition of the speech in her 1987 "Darkness Into Light" album. Very powerful song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: TESTIMONY OF PATIENCE KERSHAW (F Higgins)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Aug 97 - 04:41 AM

TESTIMONY OF PATIENCE KERSHAW
(Frank Higgins)

It's good of you to ask me, Sir, to tell you how I spend my days
Down in a coal black tunnel, Sir, I hurry corves to earn my pay.
The corves are full of coal, kind Sir, I push them with my hands and head.
It isn't lady-like, but Sir, you've got to earn your daily bread.

I push them with my hands and head, and so my hair gets worn away.
You see this baldy patch I've got, it shames me like I just can't say.
A lady's hands are lily white, but mine are full of cuts and segs.
And since I'm pushing all the time, I've got great big muscles on my legs.

I try to be respectable, but sir, the shame, God save my soul.
I work with naked, sweating men who curse and swear and hew the coal.
The sights, the sounds, the smells, kind Sir, not even God could know my pain.
I say my prayers, but what's the use? Tomorrow will be just the same.

Now, sometimes, Sir, I don't feel well, my stomach's sick, my head it aches.
I've got to hurry best I can. My knees are weak, my back near breaks.
And then I'm slow, and then I'm scared these naked men will batter me.
But they're not to blame, for if I'm slow, their families will starve, you see.

Now all the lads, they laugh at me, and Sir, the mirror tells me why.
Pale and dirty can't look nice. It doesn't matter how hard I try.
Great big muscles on my legs, a baldy patch upon my head.
A lady, Sir? Oh, no, not me! I should've been a boy instead.

I praise your good intentions, Sir, I love your kind and gentle heart
But now it's 1842, and you and I, we're miles apart.
A hundred years and more will pass before we're standing side by side
But please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried.

From the "Generations" CD, by Sally Rogers. This CD has yet another version of the Sojourner Truth speech, along with a number of other powerful songs.
Sally's notes say that the words to this song are derived from a transcript of testimony gathered by the Ashley Mines Committee from 17-yr-old Patience Kershaw in 1842. By then, Patience had worked in the mines for most of her life, the effects of which are clear in this song.... The song was written by Englishman Frank Higgins, whom Sally was unable to locate.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: Alan of Oz
Date: 18 Aug 97 - 04:51 AM

Joe,
Gee you're quick mate. What time of day is it where you are? Here it's early evening (7:50p.m.) & I've just arrived home from work, but Mudcat thinks it's the wee small hours.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Aug 97 - 05:05 AM

It's 2 AM in California and time for bed, Alan. If I hadn't typed the song now, I probably wouldn't have done it at all. It you're not familiar with Sally Rogers, you may find her interesting. Her music is similar to Priscilla Herdman's, but with a somewhat heavier emphasis on traditional music. Excellent stuff. G'nite.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: Dave Brennan
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 07:21 PM

Thank you all. I tend to know a lot of Irish songs though the Lord knows how long it's been since I sung any of them.

As I say, I heard this only once a long time ago, in a British folk club. And it immediately grabed me, the really sad story yet told in such a matter-of-fact way; I liked the tune as well.

This place in great, the we can all swap our stories and songs. Thanks again. I've never heard of Sally Rogers or Priscilla Herdman, but I'll keep an eye out for their singing.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: johnk
Date: 22 Aug 97 - 03:13 PM

I heard Martin Carthy sing this song at a Vancouver Folk Festival some years ago. Cried and Cried, we all did.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: Barry Finn
Date: 22 Aug 97 - 04:20 PM

Child labor - Vera & Gary Aspey doing King Cotton on their From The North LP on Topic. They'll Never Keep Us Down-Women's Coal Mining Songs on Rounder. On it are : Coal Mining Woman-Hazel Dickens, Draglines-Deborah Silverstein's songs, sung by Reel World String Band, Hello Coal Miner- Sarah Gunning, and many more. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From:
Date: 19 Jun 00 - 02:31 PM

has any body got the words for the coal mining song albert berry as sung by Gary and Vera

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Jun 00 - 03:35 PM

If you type albert berry into the "Digitrad and Forum Search" box on the main Forum page, you'll find it.

Malcolm

Subject: Origins: TESTIMONY OF PATIENCE KERSHAW
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 20 Jun 00 - 05:29 PM

I have three recordings of 'Patience Kershaw' - by the Ian Campbell Group on 'Something to Sing About' (1972), by Roy Bailey on 'If I Knew Who the Enemy Was' (1978) and - my favourite - by Cilla Fisher & Artie Trezise taped live from the radio, c. 1978. Here is some more info on it (though I'm not sure how this is going to turn out):

[1842:] A pit girl from Halifax, P. Kershaw, aged 17: "My father has been dead about a year; my mother is living and has ten children, five lads and five lasses; the oldest is about 30, the youngest is four; three lasses go to the mill; all the lads are colliers, two getters and three hurriers; one lives at home and does nothing; mother does nought but look after home.

 Name                    Age     Occupation      Wages
  
                                               £    s   d
  William (Kershaw)       22      Getter       0   16   0
  Thomas (married)      c.30      -                     -
  James                   18      Hurrier      0    8   6
  Bethel                  13      Ditto        0    5   0
  Solomon                 11      Ditto        0    3   6
  Patience                17      Ditto        0    8   6
  Sarah                   24      Weaver       0    9   0
  Hannah                  21      Ditto        0    9   0
  Sybil (married)         26      -                     -
  Caroline (at home)       4      -                     -
  Alice (at home, sick)   15      -                     -
  
                                               2   19   6

All my sisters have been hurriers, but three went to the mill, Alice went because her legs swelled from hurrying in cold water when she was hot. I never went to day-school; I go to Sunday school, but I cannot read or write; I go to pit at 5 o'clock in the morning; I get my breakfast of porridge and milk first; I take my dinner with me, a cake, and eat it as I go; I do not stop or rest any time for the purpose; I get nothing else until I get home, and then have potatoes and meat, not every day meat. I hurry in the clothes I have now got on, trousers and ragged jacket; the bald place upon my head is made by thrusting the corves; my legs have never swelled, but sisters' did when they went to mill; I hurry the corves a mile and more under ground and back; they weigh 300 cwt [hundredweight]; I hurry 11 a-day; I wear a belt and chain at the workings to get the corves out; the getters that I work for are naked except their caps; they pull off all their clothes; I see them at work when I go up; sometimes they beat me, if I am not quick enough, with their hands; they strike me upon my back; the boys take liberties with me sometimes, they pull me about; I am the only girl in the pit; there are about 20 boys and 15 men; all the men are naked; I would rather work in mill than in coal-pit."

This girl is an ignorant, filthy, ragged, and deplorable-looking object, and such an [sic] one as the uncivilized natives of the prairies would be shocked to look upon. (First report of the commission on the employment of children, quoted in Palmer, Poverty 43)

[1972:] Although written fairly recently by Frank Higgins of Liverpool this moving song is based very literally on the actual evidence given by the young Patience Kershaw before the Government Commission of Enquiry into Child Labour in 1842. As a result of the enquiry in that same year an Act of Parliament prohibited the underground employment in the mines of women and boys under ten years old. (Notes Ian Campbell Folk Group, 'Something To Sing About')

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 20 Jun 00 - 07:37 PM

Frank lived over on the Birkenhead side of the Mersey and used to frequent Liverpool folk clubs some thirty years ago. He was something of a heavy drinker, but then I suspect that most of us were then too, and I feel sure that I had heard that he had died some time ago. If memory serves me rightly, Frank wrote this song for a competition organised by the English Folksong & Dance Society - it was one of two songs that he submitted, and he thought that the other was the better song. One of the judges in the competition was Ian Campbell, and while Frank also submitted a tune for the song, I think the one to which the words are sung has a lot of Ian in it. Frank once wrote a wonderful verse for the song Cosher Bailey's Engine, it went:
Cosher Bailey's sister Netta, performed light-operetta,
Sang in comedy and farce, 'Call Me Madam' and 'Kiss Me ...Kate'

Doesn't look so good written down though!

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal m
From: WyoWoman
Date: 21 Jun 00 - 12:42 AM

You know, occasionally I start feeling sorry for myself because I have to work so hard and I can't afford this or that. Then I read an account like the one above and feel utterly humbled.

I have to get a recording of this. Which one should I go for?

WW

Subject: child labour photos
From: GUEST,sadashivan
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 09:50 AM

Who are responsible for child labour ? If parents don't send their children to work I am sure factories will not be able to consume them. Why poor parents feel children as their assets who will earn money for their home?


click the site below for photos:
child labour photos

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:30 AM

Did you have something to contribute to this musical discussion, guest?

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:44 AM

In another recent thread someone asked why do people feel the need to keep harking back to the coal-mining days, and I answered that if they need to ask, they probably wouldn't understand the answer.

If you're still there, the answer is the suffering of 'Patience Kershaw', her peers and all those who preceded and followed her.

Great song but sad, sad subject matter.

Johnny.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: breezy
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:47 AM

Roy Bailey performs it very well

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 11:00 AM

Yep, Roy's avuncular tones work very well with this song.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal min
From: GUEST,TC
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 04:19 PM

We're in this program called S.C.R.E.A.M. against child labor, and we need a preety good, and fairly modern song about child labor. Besides the song listed, do you have any more??

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Willa
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 04:48 PM

Collier Lass and Fourpence a Day are both in the DT. Not sure of the dates, but I think Collier Lass is fairly recent (depends how you define that!)

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From:
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 06:43 PM

Found this thread:

Songs of the Industrial Revolution

But I am sure we have more songs about the subject. Seems to me, I remember a thread about an Irish song about conditions in some kind a sweat shop, but I'm not sure if it was about kids or women in 19th century working conditions.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: rich-joy
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 10:54 PM

I learnt The Tesimony of Patience Kershaw from a (70s?) Vera Aspey recording - but there's also "The Collier Lass" as sung by Frankie Armstrong on her 1975 Topic album ...

Cheers!
R-J

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal min
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 11:31 PM

Not in answer to the 1 April question, but to add to the list: Elle Osborne recorded a fine rendition on her cd "Testimony". MP3 available here. Definitely made me cry when I heard it for the first time - Elle, live at Neffa.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 03:51 AM

I remember Frank Higgins well. It surprised me when Patience Kershaw appeared as Frank was mainly into the blues -he was also a big Bert jansch/John Renbourn fan. The last time I saw Frank must have been 25 years ago in the street in Liverpool city centre, and he was pretty drunk. A few years ago - after a conversation with Roy Bailey, who was keen to meet Frank, I went through the Merseyside phone directory trying to find Frank, but without success.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 12:00 PM

I have to revive this thread because I just heard an MP3 of Gary & Vera Aspey doing this....and if there is a stronger, more moving version, I don't think my soul could stand it.

In the process of looking up information, I found this web site from Germany with commentary in both German & English....and a link to this Mudcat thread, where much of the information seems to have been obtained!

What an amazing circle it is all becoming!

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: BB
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 02:49 PM

My favourite recording has to be Carolyn Robson on her CD 'All the Fine Young Men', RVRCD02.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 05:59 PM

I have an article from a magazine about the women who worked on the pit top washing and sorting the coal, and breaking it up to the sort of size used for domestic fires. They were actually quite proud of their strength and their ability to work a full shift doing hard work.

The miners union forced them out of work and their jobs were given to men who were invalided out from the coal face.

I have to smile at the people who want to stop child labour and child slavery - they don't seem to realise that the children are put to work to earn a living as opposed to dying and that if a child has an owner they are likely to be fed and housed, maybe even have medical treatment if they are ill. The families are actually trying to keep their children alive in circumstances most people in First World coountries can't believe exist today.

The real culprits are the wealthy nations who manipulate governments and economies - and if a country offends by trying to up the price or retain a raw material it is punished - maybe invaded or the World Bank will not lend money.

On a smaller scale just look at how our UK pits were closed down to teach the mining communities a lesson.

Anne

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 06:52 AM

the song came about following an official inquiry into child labour, and followed the tradegy which occurred when a number of children were drowned in the Huskar pit, Silkstone nr Barnsley, as result of a flash flood

I obtained a copy of the report a few years ago from the National Coal MIning Museum at Netherton, near Wakefield where the details and feelings expressed in the song can be found; however I recollect that one of Roy Palmers books contained the details which form the nucleus of the song, I forget the title as I think I loaned it to Carol,Kathryn Robert mum!
Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:00 AM

if you want further info' ablot Huskar Pit Disaster, just type it in on Google

Ray Padgett (I meant Kathryn Roberts of Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman)~ above

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: GUEST,Keith A o Hertford
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:05 AM

Rightly, much has been written of the evils of slavery.
It is sometimes forgotten that our own poor, and especially their children and orphans, lacking the intrinsic value of a slave and readily replaceable, were commonly worked literally to death.

God bless you sir

Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:11 AM

As an aspiring teacher, I recently made a web quest focusing on Breaker Boys....didn't find much information about girls working in the mines....these lyrics are great and I'll have to link them into my webquest! The girls in the class will love it!!!!

It's amazing how many topics are covered here...AMAZING! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: shepherdlass
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:29 AM

There's also a marvellous Roy Bailey recording of this somewhere - it was on an LP released in the mid 80s, but I can't remember its name.

Glad this discussion came up, I've been trying to find the name of this song for years.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: AggieD
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 04:40 PM

The version by Roy Bailey is on a CD called 'What you do with what you've got' On Fuse Records CFCD399.

I've got a copy signed by the man himself, I think from Towersey Festival a few years ago.

Wonderful, well worth the listen. Also includes such greats as 'Rolling Home', 'The Ugly Ones'& a great version of 'Hard Times of Old England'.

Get hold of it if you can.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: GUEST,Anne Price
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 01:40 PM

Does anyone know who owns the copyright to The Testimony of Patience Kershaw now, and how I can get a mechanical license for it for a CD recording?

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song about child labor & girl coal miner
From: Little Robyn
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 03:55 PM

Ellie Osborne does a stunning version too.
Robyn

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kershaw)
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 11:45 AM

WyoWoman, as you can see by the above, all the versions of this powerful song appear to be well done. Like Bill D above, I am very partial to Gary and Vera Aspey's version of this song.

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kershaw)
From: Emma B
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 02:38 AM

lest we forget
Yesterday was World Child Labour Day

FOUR PENCE A DAY

The ore is waiting in the tubs the snow's upon the fell
Canny folk are sleeping yet but lead is reet to sell
Come me little washer lad come let's awa
We're bound down to slavery for four pence a day

It's early in the morning we rise at five o'clock
And the little slaves come to the door to knock, knock, knock
Come me little washer lad, come let's awa
It's very hard to work for four pence a day

My father was a miner and lived down in the town
Twas hard work and poverty that always kept him down
He aimed for me to go to school, but brass he could not pay
So i had to go to the washing rake for four pence a day

My mother rises out of bed with tears on her cheeks
Puts my wallet on my shoulders, which has to serve a week
It often fills her great big heart when she unto me does say
I never thought you would have worked for four pence a day

Fourpence a day, me lads, and very hard to work
And never a pleasant look from a gruffy looking Turk
His conscience it may fall and his heart it may give way
Then he'll raise our wages to nine pence a day

see also FOURPND
@work @mining
sung by MacColl on Steamwhistle Ballads
filename[ FOURPENC
TUNE FILE: FOURPND
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kershaw)
From: sapper82
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 07:23 AM

People who slag off Victorian Values ought to bear in mind that it was them who first took effective action against such evils as are described here.

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kersha
From: Paul Burke
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 07:34 AM

The Victorians weren't any more unanimous than we are. There were people promoting social values from the 17th century onwards, and before. But until political reforms allowed ordinary people to apply pressure, it was easy for the free-market theorists to oppose any interference with economic "inevitability". The Reform Act riots of the 1830s, the Chartist movement, the Co-Op movement, the early trades unions, many such actions whichseemed to fail at the time laid the foundations for long- term improvement. And it was mainly the threat of communism that brought in the welfare state. It's noticeable that the reforms are being rolled slowly back, a bit at a time so you don't notice it, now that the Soviet bloc has gone.

Subject: Ideas?
From: GUEST,Hillary
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 10:39 AM

My class and I are creating a performance piece centered around child labor. We are looking for work songs and other artistic elements to use. Any ideas or sources? Ideally, we'd love to find someplace online where we can listen to songs&lyrics written by or about children at work (any time andy place).
Thanks

Subject: What's up- my first post
From: GUEST,BlueHornet
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 12:40 PM

This look interesting,so far.
If it's not just all bots here, let me know. I'm looking to network
Oh, and yes I'm a real person LOL.

Later,

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kershaw)
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:19 AM

"Babies In The Mill" by Dorsey Dixon is another worth hearing. But I think Patience was right - the mill was preferable to the mine.

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kershaw)
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:39 PM

George Orwell wrote, in 1937:

"It is not long since conditions in the mines were worse than they are now. There are still living a few very old women who in their youth have worked underground, with the harness round their waists, and a chain that passed between their legs, crawling on all fours and dragging tubs of coal. They used to go on doing this even when they were pregnant. And even now, if coal could not be produced without pregnant women dragging it to and fro, I fancy we should let them do it rather than deprive ourselves of coal. But -- most of the time, of course, we should prefer to forget that they were doing it...."

(_The Road to Wigan Pier_)

Subject: RE: child labor & girl coal miner (Patience Kershaw)
From: r.padgett
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 02:39 AM

I do think that there is a song called "Jamie's been murdered by the overseers" mills and child labour

This was on a Derbyshire recording certainly involving Mick Peat probably Ripley Wayfarers

Also Poverty Knocks (see Yorkshire Garland website yorkshirefolksong.net women in mills fromn young age

Re Patience Kershaw incident at Huskar Pit, Silkstone nr Barnsley occurred in 1838, took until 1842 for the inquiry to take place into children and women working in the mines ~ in which the details of Patience Kershaw became encapsulated. It is a stunning song, made popular by Roy Bailey and sung by Kathryn Roberts being most local to the events

Ray

Subject: RE: The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw-child miner
From: doc.tom
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 02:56 AM

Some-one asked about the rights. The song was first published in 'Festival Folk' by EFDS Publishing in the 1970s (never got a copy so can't fnd the date). So your enquiries should start with Malcolm Taylor, the librarian for the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House.

Subject: RE: The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw-child miner
From: GUEST,padgett on lap top
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 05:32 AM

Thanks Tom, hope to include it in Yorkshire Garland, with Hilary Simpson already recorded singing and provenance done too

Ray

Subject: RE: The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw-child miner
From: 2581
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 03:42 PM

Enoch Kent does a fine version of "The Testimony of Patience Kershaw" as well.

Subject: RE: The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw-child miner
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 04:51 PM

Unthank's latest record has a version.

Subject: RE: The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw-child miner
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 05:20 PM

Re Padgett's post of 23 July - Nic Jones, when he was with the Halliard, set a tune to a Birmingham broadside ballad called the Workhouse Boy.

The chorus goes, "And we all of us say it, and we say it with sneers, Jamie's been murdered by the overseers". It isn't clear whether this is about child labour though, it could be about recycling workhouse children as soup, though the mention of breeches in the soup copper suggests that Jamie might have fallen in while working in the kitchen. I used to sing it with Mick Pearce.

Kitty