Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CENSUS (William Gill, lead miner)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 02 May 02 - 07:46 AM

This song was requested in the thread Lyric Req:One More Pull Boys. I'm putting it here with a link in the requesting thread.

If anyone knows the author I'd be grateful for the information

Mick

---

THE CENSUS

CHORUS:
Name: William Gill, residing at Linton Mill,
Position: the family head, occupation: a miner for lead.
Aged: Near 55, Children: 6 still alive.
Wife: 4 years passed on, Date: 1851.

In your census you've asked me to tell, my name and dependents as well
In addition the work that we've done, in this year of 1851.
Well my eldest lass Helen's here still, she's a power loom weaver at mill
She's 21 and she rises at 4, never late at the factory door.

Then at 19 there's George, my first son, and 2 years behind here there's John,
At Grassington Mines they'll be found , like the dead in the cold underground,
Then there's Sarah she's only 13, she's a woman and keeps the house clean,
She feeds us and keeps us alive and she looks after Margaret whose 5.

Then the last one's my own name of Bill, and already he works at mill
But in the morning he still goes to school, for a 10 year old isn't life cruel?
Now all that I've said here is true, we've all got our own jobs to do,
In your census we seem pretty small, we're a small Wharfedale family that's all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 May 02 - 08:04 AM

What's the tune? Great song -- I'd love to learn it.

Linn

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 02 May 02 - 08:09 AM

I usually try and put up tunes for texts I give but I'm just about to go out. I'll try and jot it down later when I get back.

Mick

Subject: Tune Add: THE CENSUS (William Gill, lead miner)
From: GUEST,MCP, Tune Add
Date: 02 May 02 - 10:33 AM

Here as promised is the tune (verse same as chorus).

Mick


THE CENSUS

Name:/ Will-i-am/ Gill-/--, res/-i-ding/ at Lin-ton/ Mill-/--,
Pos-/i-tion: the/ fam-ily head-/--, oc-cu-/pa-tion: a/ mi-ner for/ lead-/---./
Aged:/ Near fif-ty/ five-/---,/ Child-ren:/ six still a-/live-/---/.
Wife:/ four years passed/ on-/---,/ Date: eight-/een fif-ty/ one-/---//.


X: 1
T:The Census
M:3/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=150
K:D
A3|G F E|D3-|D2 D|B2 B|G A B|A3-|A2
D|B B c|d> c B|A3-|A2 A/A/|A F A|G F G|A3-|A3|
A3|G F E|D3-|D3 |B2 B|G A B|A3-|A3|
B3|d c B|A3-|A3|A2 A|G F E|D3-|D2||

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 02 - 10:49 AM

danke!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: Dead Horse
Date: 02 May 02 - 02:13 PM

Great song. Thanks Mick.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 02 - 02:18 PM

NWC of tune with lyric to JoeO.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 03:03 PM

I heard this sung recently and was reminded of what a good lyric it is, though I do feel the tune is too "sing-song" for its own good - rather like the "jollying-up" of Poverty Knock....

But I find it curious that no Catters seem to have been able to help Mick out with his enquiry of nearly three years back - surely someone out there must have some knowledge of the origins/author of/background to this song??

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 06:45 PM

Mike Nicholson does a damn fine job of this song - I will check and try to find author - It is a 'fairly' recent song !

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: BB
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:21 PM

The song's proper title, apparently, is 'Census 1851' and it's by someone called Alan Miller, according to Brian Krengel from whose singing I believe Mike Nicholson had it.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Census (William Gill, lead miner)
From: GUEST,pauline
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 06:02 AM

Thanks everyone

Happy Christmas and good singing to you all!