learned this song from 2 folks from the Shellback chorus - just recorded it with the Johnson Girls and looking for more background info -- and origins of the song
it has been recorded by Glenn and Vera Ashley and Anne Price.

It is purportedly a union song from the 1850s, but I'm not certain of that --

the chorus is:

working in a 3 foot seam, well I'll tell you boys that life is not a dream
there's no joy to be found when you're two miles underground
And you're working in a 3 foot seam

verses:
Don't you think they're making you a gift
When they pay a bloody pittance for a shift
and you're sweating out your soul and for every ton of coal
you've a ton of dirt and muck you have to shift

Up above the ground the weather may be fine
but you're stuck down where the sun don't ever shine
You're crawling like a rat and in your heart you're wishing that
you were any place except down in the mine

bad conditions have prevailed for far too long
so join the union boys, you'll never be far wrong
together we can tell, the bosses go to hell
for the union voice is many thousands strong.


So, if anyone knows where/when this song originates, I would be happy to hear about it.

Thanks,

Joy

digging as always