The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #130402 Message #2934774
Posted By: Jim Carroll
25-Jun-10 - 03:26 PM
Thread Name: The Blackleg Miner and FAF.
Subject: RE: The Blackleg Miner and FAF.
S O'P
"It's not even a proper folk song"
Sorry about this, but it's been bugging me all day.
Given your somewhat catch-all definition that a folk song is anything that is performed in a folk club, why can't Blackleg Miner be one?
Bert went to many folk clubs; he was a founder resident at The Singers Club and sang the song there, as did many others.
Is there a hidden clause in your definition that debars anything that Bert sang from being 'folk'.
Please reply a.s.a.p. - I'm sure I won't sleep tonight otherwise.
"because it glorifies violence."
Not if it's introduced properly it doesn't.
Brutalisation of workers by extremist politicians and bosses during strikes is still fairly fresh in the memories of those of us who became involved in supporting the miners' strike. I heard the song used then on numerous occasions with tremendous effect.
When Bert sang it he talked about the cut in wages imposed by the mineowners in the middle of the 19th century, and he went on to describe the many Irish fleeing The Great Famine, taking up miners jobs at the reduced figure. The song took on a totally new meaning; one of desperation rather than vindictiveness, given that background.
MacColl and Charles Parker said they met with a great deal of anti-Irish feeling when they were recording actuality for Radio Ballad, The Big Hewer, particularly in South Wales, dating back to this period.
Jim Carroll
S O'P - nice to have you back - even if you are still tilting at half-a-century old windmills.