Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?

Subject: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:01 AM

Does anyone know of songs that are about or refer to the Magdalene Asylums of Ireland? I heard a report on the film MAGDALENE SISTERS on NPR radio this morning. A web page with a poem is here http://mourne.net/shepherds.htm

You can hear the NPR segment at NPR radio www.npr.org
Look for Morning Edition, September 30, 2002, article title "Magdalene Sisters". There is some instrumental music played on the pipes at the end of the report.

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: wilco
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:28 AM

Sometimes, stories seem so bizarre, that you can't believe that these conditions exist in civilized societies. Why would the Irish people allow this behavior?

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: Áine
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:32 AM

Just stopping by to add a link to the "Lyr Req: Magdalene Laundry" thread, which includes songs about this subject.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:41 AM

Thanks, Áine, MMario refreshed the thread. The NPR segment I linked to above includes comments from the mouths of women who experienced the slave labor imprisonment. I'm curious if the music at the end of it is from the film soundtrack.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAGDELENE MAID ELIZABETH FLYNN
From: mg
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 08:10 PM

I think I posted before..tune is if I was a blackbird


MAGDELENE MAID ELIZABETH FLYNN

I am a young laundress my story is sad
Once I was courted by a young grocer's lad
He got me with child and that was my doom
And now I'm encased in this cold bitter tomb

My Mickey was steamrolled and sent off to sea
He never came back for the baby and me
My darling Delila was sent to the states
I'll never more see her or know of her fate

The food won't sustain us it mostly is gruel
And some but not all of the sisters are cruel
We have women of 80 and girls of just 10
And if we escape we are brought back again

A girl with a past a girl with no shame
I'm a penitent now without even a name
With bleach to my elbows I wash away sin
But if you should ask it's Elizabeth Flynn

The fiddles and drums are prepared for the dance
We would so like to join them but there is no chance
So whenever the old washerwoman is played
I ask you remember each Magdalene Maid

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 01:02 AM

Magdelaine laundries by joni mitchell?

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 03:31 AM

Mary Coughlan has a song about the Magdalene laundries. It's on Youtube ( just enter Mary Coughlan.........)

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: GUEST,guest annette
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 06:31 AM

Christmas Moore has written a song about these women. Not sure if it is available on any album. He sang it at a walk with the Frank Harte weekend last year.

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 06:43 AM

I have a hymn written for the Edinburgh Magdalen Asylum in 1802 in my collection of music relating to Edinburgh:

http://www.campin.me.uk/Embro/Webrelease/Embro/09love/09love.htm

Look for "Confession".

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: Willa
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 06:47 AM

Grace Notes sing the Johnny Mulhern song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f69uneFY930

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: OlgaJ
Date: 04 Jul 13 - 11:26 AM

I think the Christie Moore song is actually a version of the Joni Mitchell one, unless he's written one of his own in the last couple of years.

Subject: RE: Any songs about the Magdalene Asylums?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 21 - 01:56 PM

Annie Grace, on spotify