The women sewing in the New Zealand clothing factories were paid very little and worked long hours stitching in poor light. This song was published in the Lyttelton Times in March, 1889. The effect of this song, the public meetings held at the time and the sermons of the Rev. Rutherford Waddell in Dunedin churches led to public concern, the appointment of a Royal Commission and the formation of a tailoresses' union. (New Zealand Folksongs)
1. Who robs the widow of her right
By work that takes her day and night,
To earn his poor starvation mite? The sweater.
2. Who is it makes girly go astray
To earn their bread In sinful way
Because for work he will not pay? The sweater.
3. Who is it that will cheat and lie
And every cunning trick will try,
His greed of gain to satisfy? The sweater.
4. Who is the vilest, meanest thief
That trades In flesh and blood and grief,
Till from his fangs death brings relief? The sweater.
5. Who has the rings and jewels on,
And gloats o'er money he has won
By dirty business he has done? The sweater.
6. He is society's disgrace
And must be told so to his face.
So out with him, leave him no place,
The sweater.
MIDI file: sweater.mid
Timebase: 96
Text: Produced using SharpEye (Unregistered)
Tempo: 240 (250000 microsec/crotchet)
TimeSig: 2/2 48 8
Start
0288 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 72 064 0096 0 72 064 0000 1 71 064 0096 0 71 064 0000 1 69 064 0048 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0144 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0096 0 64 064 0000 1 65 064 0096 0 65 064 0000 1 67 064 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 69 064 0096 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 65 064 0096 0 65 064 0000 1 64 064 0096 0 64 064 0000 1 60 064 0048 0 60 064 0000 1 62 064 0096 0 62 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 64 064 0288 0 64 064 0000 1 64 064 0096 0 64 064 0000 1 65 064 0096 0 65 064 0000 1 64 064 0096 0 64 064 0000 1 62 064 0096 0 62 064 0000 1 60 064 0096 0 60 064 0000 1 70 064 0048 0 70 064 0000 1 69 064 0096 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0144 0 67 064 0192 1 65 064 0096 0 65 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0240 0 67 064
EndThis program is worth the effort of learning it.
To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here
ABC format:
X:1
T:
M:2/2
Q:1/4=240
K:C
G8|c2B2AG3|E2F2G4|-G6G2|A2G2F2E2|CD2EE4|-E2E2F2E2|
D2C2^AA2G|-G6F2|EG5||