Women's Work Songs

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: mg
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 12:32 PM

Trucker's Cafe by Sylvia Tyson mg

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,corinne
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 02:02 PM

Couple of suggestions:

1.) Lace maker's songs form Bedfordshire in Fred Hamer's collection, one of the 2 books; there's a long chant beginning "21 pins hang over my lace" or something similar that I always meant to learn. I could look up the full words if anyone's interested.

2.) I agree that Poverty Knock was written in the woman's voice; the references to "rats in that dirty old barn" and the gossip about Lizzie who is "so easily led ... she used to be skinny, now look at her pinny" sounds like one woman on another!

I've only just discovered this site / thread, so excuse me joining in so late! I'll add more as I think of it.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,Corinne
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 02:10 PM

Just thought of another. Have you heard Hannah Hutton (from Rothbury in Northumberland) sing "The Lassie that works in the mill"?

"Oh the gay servant lassies are dressed up to kill,
And the dressmaker's bonnier still,
But the bonniest lass in the whole rig-ma-tig
Is the lassie that works in the mill".

There are a couple of songs from the North of Ireland about millgirls. The best known is the one from Sarah Makem where the rich man fails to persuade the mill girl to marry him; she'd rather carry on working for her living.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: Tansy
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:22 PM

Hmmm. When I was a girl and all us girls were doing massive amounts of dishes at Grandmas house, we sang a song that had dozens of verses that started off with "I wish I were a single girl again" but wasn't the common one you hear..it had a tune not unlike "Old Dan Tucker"! If we really got going, we could do it as a round with the various tasks falling into place after eachother with the different groups starting a few beats after the other one. I was very small then and have never heard it quite that way anywhere else. This would have been in the early 70's in Far upstate NY in The Adirondacks. The women who taught us the song are now in their 80's. I'll have to ask my Aunt and Grandmother. The song has verses about sewing, washing, cooking, planting, cleaning, birthing and dying and so on.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: emjay
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:02 PM

A very good resource is the book "CARRY IT ON! A history in song and picture of the working men and women of America," by Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser; published in 1985 by Simon and Schuster.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: gecko
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 08:42 PM

I transcribed this from a tape recorded in a folk club in Darwin (or Alice Springs) a few years ago, sung by the one and only Paul Lawler. So sorry, I have no more details about who wrote it or what melody it's sung to.

SERVING GIRL'S HOLIDAY

I've waited longing for this day
Spin the bottle and spool away
In joy and bliss I'm off to play
Upon this high holiday

Ch:                Spin the bobbin and spool away
                What joy that it's a holiday!

The milking pails has got to go
I ought to spread this bowl of dough
It clogs my nails and fingers so
As I knead this high holiday

Ch

The dirt upon the floors unswept
The fireplace isn't cleaned and kept
I haven't got the rushes yet
Upon this high holiday

Ch

The cooking herbs I must fetch in
And tie my kerchief under my chin
Darling Jack, lend me a pin
To fix me well this holiday

Ch

And as we rest beside the track
Happy in this Sunday Jack
We'll wet my whistle and pay my wack
As on every holiday

Ch

I've waited longing for this day.............

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,Jill
Date: 03 Nov 04 - 05:37 AM

Interested in Scottish fisher women's songs - Gaelic and/or English. Does anyone out there have any - or any connections I could make with ex-fisherlassies here in Scotland?   I would be really grateful for any help with this. They seem to have been quite a forgotten group over the course of history - and what a lifestyle!
Thanks

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 03 Nov 04 - 09:19 AM

Gaye Anthony and Trish Norman are based in Aberdeen and do quite a few Scottish fisher women's songs - why not try contacting them about their sources

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,Jill
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 07:25 AM

Finally found my way back into this thread! Work is going well - I have a few songs from the fisherwomen - but would still be interested in any more - or any more info out there about the herring girls.

Thanks Snuffy - I have followed up the contact - and hope to hear from G&T at some point.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,mick
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 07:40 AM

In Galway Bay the women do all the work "in the uplands digging praties" "in the meadows making hay". Galway men must be a very lazy bunch.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 07:42 AM

Ohhhhh brill, what a load of fab material. Can't wait to investigate and get singing. BTW, haven't read the whole thread, but the convict song refered to earlier by Peter Bellamy was "I once lived in service" - great song - (from the folk opera, The Transports), but I can never remember the first few verses since they're a long list of housework chores and I'm not too hot on housework meself ;-) F

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From:
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 09:53 PM

Hello,
I am writing a paper about nationalism and gender during the Cold War in America. Any song lyrics from this era (with composer and year)would be extremely helpful.

Thanks,
Jo

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 10:13 PM

Joe Jencks just recorded a superb CD of labor songs - "Rise As One". He included Linda Allen's "Rosie the Riveter Revisited", a song that is based on the women who worked in the Bremerton shipyards during WWII and were told to go home after the war ended.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,Robin
Date: 30 May 08 - 03:01 PM

I just stumbled on this thread. I'm looking for the songs Lamarca spoke about in the thread when it started: songs about women in traditionally masculine manual work and songs about women in professional jobs. I'm a teacher working with women trying to get back into the workplace and I love using music to inspire them. I have several songs from Linda Allen, Libby Roderick, Peggy Seeger and Ann Reed in mind but would love to hear about others.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 30 May 08 - 06:24 PM

Robin,

Man's Job, by Canadian singer-songwriter Eileen McGann, on her CD, Elements, is exactly what you're looking for.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 31 May 08 - 01:58 PM

"Tip Your Waitress."
"Queen of the House," the answer to "King of the Road."
"Single Girl, Married Girl" (Carter Family).

Subject: Bob Coltman contact information requests
From: GUEST,Jimmy Keane
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 01:48 PM

Hi,
Sorry for being off thread, but I am attempting to get in contact with Bob Coltman regarding one of his songs which my band recorded. I would like to send him a mechanical license along with a royalty payment (and a copy of the recording). Please let me know if you can help with this matter.

You may contact me offlist at:

Jimmy Keane
[e-mail]

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 08:08 PM

What a great thread! Time to refresh!

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,John Whittingdale, England
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 07:22 AM

FOR ALICE OF MOMTANA

Thank you so much for your English cradle song "Golden Slumbers" which I have arranged for classical guitar and attempting to play it for my 2 year old granddaughter.    It was intended for her first birthday! My guitar teacher found me lullabies from many countries, but not the British Isles.

I am really most grateful

John Whittingdale
Surrey England

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 07:28 PM

"Linstead Market"- a woman who sells ackees (West African vegetables grown in Jamaica) in the market.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: Bert
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 06:20 AM

The girls that work in the Arsenal
they're working night and day
piling up munitions for the soldiers far away
and when our war is over, our guv'nor he will say
girls you've done your duty
you deserve a holiday.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 03:47 PM

I have some if anyone (almost anyone) wants them..

Fisherwomen
Oyster pickers in WWII
Crab shakers
Boarding house owner
Apple blossom queen (but I have forgotten that one)
Pulp mill worker
Dairymaid
Cannery workers
Mint farm worker
Pendleton wool worker
Fur trapper

Several about women in Vietnam war..one has radio operator, adjutant, nurse, singer, graves person (and I won't send that to anyone who has been rude on that subject).

I have a little handheld recorder now so I can send MP3s if anyone wants..just PM me (most of you). mg

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 03:47 PM

I have some if anyone (almost anyone) wants them..

Fisherwomen
Oyster pickers in WWII
Crab shakers
Boarding house owner
Apple blossom queen (but I have forgotten that one)
Pulp mill worker
Dairymaid
Cannery workers
Mint farm worker
Pendleton wool worker
Fur trapper

Several about women in Vietnam war..one has radio operator, adjutant, nurse, singer, graves person (and I won't send that to anyone who has been rude on that subject).

I have a little handheld recorder now so I can send MP3s if anyone wants..just PM me (most of you). mg

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 02:41 AM

There's another Jamaican one "Missa Bilban Party"- a work song for women washing clothes by rivers.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 02:46 AM

And this one:
JEAN AND DINAH
Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1956

1. Well, the girls in town feeling bad,
No more Yankees in Trinidad.
They goin' to close down the base for good,
Them girls have to make out how they could.
Brother, it is now they park up in town,
In for a penny, and in for a pound,
Believe me it's competition for so,
Trouble in the town when the price drop low.

CHORUS: So when you bounce up Jean and Dinah, Rosita and Clementina,
Round the corner posin', bet your life it's somethin' they sellin',
And when you catch 'em broken, you can get 'em all for nothin',
Don't make no row, the Yankees gone and Sparrow take over now.

2. Things bad is to hear them cry,
Not a sailor in town, the nightclubs dry,
Only West Indians like me or you,
Go in to get a drink or two.
And as we have things back in control
Ah seekin' revenge with me heart and soul,
Brother when ah spread the news around
Is to see how them cavemen come in to town.

(Chorus)

3. When the Yankee was in full swing,
Just imagine how I was suffering,
Mavis tell me straight to me face,
She find I too fast and out of place.
No, no, no, they will start to fret,
Money or not poor Sparrow can't get,
With the Yankees they have it cool,
Calypsonians too hard to fool.

(Chorus)

4. It's the glamour boys again,
We are going to rule in Port-of-Spain,
No more Yankees to spoil the fete,
Dorothy has to take what she get,
All of them who used to make style,
They takin' two shilling with a smile,
No more hotel to rest your head,
By the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat bread.
And "Rum and Coca-Cola".
(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 11:13 AM

Scolds Bridle do a show [& CD] "We are the women [left on the shore] about the wives/mothers of trawlermen, included are several sons about "women's work"   'Braiding', & 'The OMO song' being two.

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: GUEST,filiz bingölçe
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 04:51 AM

i have made a documentary film in turkey, which name is women's work songs

http://www.kadinisturkuleri.com/

http://www.kadinisturkuleri.com/index.php?lang=en --English version - mudelf

Subject: RE: Women's Work Songs
From: Bert
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 07:29 PM

My Mum used to sing...

Washing up, Washing up, Washing up,
We're at it hours and hour each day
every plate, every saucer, every cup
We'd like to fling them miles away
We can't enjoy the way we should
a single bite or sup
for we realize with pain
that we'll have to start again
Washing up, Washing up, Washing up.