for some reason there don't seem to be many Magdalene laundry songs..Joni Mitchell's, and someone linked to something here but I didn't hear it.

Anyway, my proposal is to play the Irish Washerwoman around the world, 12 o'clock your time...play an instrument, whistle it, play youtube or a cd or whatever..that is St. Patrick's Day..in honor of the washerwomen.

Here is a very formulaic song.tune is obviously If I were a blackbird..is that Scottish or Irish?

MAGDALENE MAID
(Elizabeth Flynn)

I am a young laundress my story is sad
One 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