Songs from the 84-85 miners strike

Subject: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Lucy Wright
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 08:24 AM

Hello all,

Righto, i've decided to speak/sing at a conference in Leeds next year - called 'Digging the Seam: Cultural Reflections and the Consequences of the 1984/5 Miners' Strike' as part of my PhD and am looking at songs written by people in the folk scene to comment on / support the miners' strike. Going to write one of my own too - as a sort of 25 years on thing...

Any suggestions of songs to listen to would be much appreciated. At the moment i'm having fun collating a kind of imaginary Smithsonian compilation of songs from/about the strike! I have a few, but am sure i am missing plenty... It'd be great to hear any recollections of the sorts of songs sung relating to the strike in folk clubs. Do people remember an increase in the old mining songs in the 80s generally? Does anyone know of any recordings of songs sung on the picket lines too?

I was reading some of the old threads on here and saw that Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger had recorded a cassette called 'Daddy what did you do in the strike?' but this seems to be totally unavailable to buy now (have checked ebay, amazon and itunes - any other places i should try?) It would be great to hear this album since so many of the songs seem perfect for this project - does anyone have a copy of it anywhere that i could take a copy of? I would be incredibly grateful and would of course, make it worth your while (ale/wine of your choice! or the postage costs, whatever!)

Thanks,
Lucy x

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 08:35 AM

Phone the Scottish Mining Museum, they have a few things in their collection.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: peregrina
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 08:42 AM

Ed Pickford's 'Crumpled Mac' and 'Heads held High'

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,Charley O'Neill
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 08:52 AM

There was an lp recorded to raise money for the strike, Can't for the life of me remember the title of it, but i remember it included topical songs from Alan Hull, Ed Pickford and...the Flying Pickets! Also remember some miners wifes I think singing something called 'never beat the miners' and another song called 'the enemy within', infact that might have been the name of the album. If you could track down this record I reckon it would be a good resource for you.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 10:15 AM

You will find the words of "Daddy What Did You Do In The Stike" in the thread of the same name (if you hadn't already done so)- have you checked Peggy Seeger's web site for the album? It might be worth a try.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 11:09 AM

One of our local pits Silverwood spawned a song. This was the pit where the pickets built a snowman to which the police took offense. A hearty officer in a Range Rover drove into it to knock it down. To the delight of the miners (and some less tactful minor police officers) the hapless officer discovered the hard way that the snowman had been built around a concrete bollard! For the rest of the winter you could hear ;
'The miners built an snowman and the p'liceman knocked it down' sung to the tune of John Brown's body. I have been unable, despite living locally, to discover the full set of words.
Paul

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 11:16 AM

Robb Johnson and Roy Bailey put together a double-cassette album called "Undefeated" which featured a lot of the well-known UK folk (and beyond) performers of the day. Some of these songs are currently available on Robb's retrospective: 'Margaret Thatcher - My Part In Her Downfall.'

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: henryclem
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 11:29 AM

I have 2 songs - "Orgreave" and "Pitworld" which you can hear on my Myspace site -

http://myspace.com/henryclements

These songs are included on the Union Songs website, which is an excellent resource and well worth checking out.   

Yorkshire Garland is also extending its base with songs about Working life and Mining - I'm sure he'll read this thread, so Ray Padgett will be able to add more info about that.

Good luck Lucy - there's a lot of good material out there!

Henry

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Lucy Wright
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 12:26 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.. my only slight concern is that i'm not sure u own a cassette player anymore! ;-)
Lx

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,padgett on lap top
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 12:42 PM

I am indebted to Henry Clements for his Orgreave song, which is due to to be uploaded to YG website before Christmas

There are two "Pickets built a Snowman", one by Ray Hearne and another by Keith Tomlinson

Keith's song hopefully will be on the YG Phase 2 website (along with Paul Davenport's ~ "Freeman's Waistcoat"

I am glad this is now reaching finishing point

THanks to all concerned

Ray Hearne may have further songs too available

Ray

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: theleveller
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 02:16 PM

"Ray Hearne may have further songs too available"

I'll ask mrsleveller to ask him. BTW, his new CD is fantastic; I've got it on at the moment.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 02:58 PM

The cassette Undefeated has two settings of versions of Coal not Dole, a poem written by Kay Sutcliffe, the wife of a Kent miner. It is sung by two promising groups, Chumbawumba and Boyes Coope and Simpson.

It reappeared, linked to Remembrance Day 1992, on Coope Boyes and Simpson's first CD, Funny Old World.

From http://history-is-made-at-night.blogspot.com/2009/03/miners-strike-2-kent-and-dick-gaughan.html
The folksinger Dick Gaughan was a tireless supporter of the Miners Strike, performing at benefit gigs all over the UK. Immediately after the strike he wrote a song about it entitled The Ballad of 84, first performed at a benefit for sacked miners at Woodburn Miners Welfare Club in Dalkeith, Midlothian in '85.

Harry Stone (Hearts of Coal) by John Tams appeared on his first solo CD Unity;
He promised he would love her
Til the blackbirds stopped their singing
The mission bell stopped ringing
And they closed the coal pit down

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 03:14 PM

I expect you have this covered already, but pertinent county records offices, may have recordings of strike related folk songs & singing in folk clubs, archived from the period. I'd ring around, or put out a few emails if you haven't done so already.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: mark gregory
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 10:35 PM

Pickets built a snowman

I'd love to hear that

some years ago I read a story that made me laugh out loud "The Rebel Snowman" from Dave Douglass book All Power to the Imagination.

I added it to the Union Songs website at:

http://unionsong.com/reviews/snowman.html

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: mark gregory
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 10:52 PM

There is also

Unity (Raise Your Banner)
A song by John Tams

at http://unionsong.com/u292.html

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: mark gregory
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 06:40 AM

a book of poems collected at the time is

AGAINST ALL THE ODDS Poetry from Miners Strike of 1984 ed Maurice Jones

recordings start with

Here We Go! (1985)
Archive recordings of songs from the miners' strike, this miners' support tape contains material from the disputes. Here We Go! combines traditional protest songs with music by Banner written specifically for the events of the strike. The song Self-Inflicted Injury describes the police brutality suffered by the picketing miners, and their struggle to stop the scabs crossing picket lines.

then

Saltley Gate (1993)
This recording, in support of the NUM campaign against pit closures, is a condensed version of music from Banner's 1975 production. The song We are the Engineers is a celebration of the leading role that engineers and their union have played in Labour Movement history for over a hundred years. It is also a tribute to the unity and organisation that ultimately closed the gates at Saltley to signal victory for the miners in their 1972 strike.

and

Burning Issues (2009) The Miners' Strike – 25 Years On
12 March 2009 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the start of the Miners' Strike of 1984/5. To mark the occasion, Banner Theatre has produced a DVD of Burning Issues, the video ballad production it created for the strike's 20th anniversary in 2004, made with members of Britain's mining communities and which toured coalfield and former coalfield communities and elsewhere throughout England and Wales in 2004/5.

all from Banner Theatre at

http://www.bannertheatre.co.uk/music.htm

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Mr Happy
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 06:47 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB8ublmImNU

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 07:49 AM

Does "History and Prophesy" pre-date the strike?

Perhaps Dr.Price can tell us as I have a recording of Calennig performing it somewhere.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: vectis
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 07:53 AM

The Banner Theatre Company have two casetts from the strikes

Here we Go! Released in 1985 about the strikes and the pickets - some hard hitting songs in this one including Maerdy and self inflicted injury.

Saltley Gate in 1993 about the NUMs fight to prevent pit closures

Burning Issues 2009 25th aniversary of the strikes

They also do a song book with most of the songs in it.

More info from their website

http://www.bannertheatre.co.uk/music.htm

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: vectis
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 07:55 AM

Oops Mark and I must have been writing in unison there

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 08:07 AM

The story of the snowman "policeman" is here..

The version of the song I had replaced the word "p'liceman" with Nesbitt. Also scans better:-)

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 08:47 AM

Not folk, but The Redskins song "Keep On Keepin' On" became something of an anthem for many during the strike.

The notorious episode where a microphone 'broke' on the Tube TV programme when a miner was invited to speak by The Redskins can be seen on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVMVbBmj7MM

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,SallyM
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 10:14 AM

Another good song I have harmony sung recently at a few 25 year miners strike events, is "Iron Hand" by Mark Knopfler. Not sure if it is classed as 'folk' but is a gread powerful song, evocative of the tension at the time with the police 'battle' lines.

Sal the Gal

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,Alex
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 12:15 PM

I don't think anybody has yet mentioned The Ballad of 84 by Dick Gaughan

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: zozimus
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 04:39 PM

Hi Lucy,
The song Ewan MacColl wrote for the strike which became more or less the anthem for the strikers was "On the Picket Line". He also wrote "Holy Joe from Scabsville", about a blackleg miner from Kent who enjoyed a lot of TV coverage for his stance. "Daddy, what did you do in the Strike", along with the above two were written in 1984.
In 1986 he wrote his classic "My Old Man", along with two other songs, "Looking for a Job" and "Public Unpublic", the second song gives mention to Scargill and the Strike.
All these songs are in the book "The Essential Ewan MacColl Songbook"-sixty years of songmaking, which you might find in a library. If not ,PM me your address and I'll send you copies.
Best of luck with your project.
                                        zozimus

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 04:40 AM

When the Frost The Risk of Frost is Over - McCalmans is about the Miner's strike too.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST,Dirk Beavis
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 05:24 AM

" Ohh my aching buttocks" Was a popular song, that could be heard from numerous 'Snug' Bars of the region.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 06:01 AM

I wrote a song whilst a member of Rhombus of Dooom at the time which was inspired by a tea-chest outside a whole-food store in Jesmond - an affluent / studenty suburb of Newcastle. This chest was for food donations for the families of the striking miners - and it was full of tofu, brown rice and organic herbal tea!

I feel the same sense of nausea towards the likes of Ewan MacColl who elected themselves as the Voice of the People in a time of real human suffering. Re: What Did You Do in the Strike, Daddy? - my thread title What Did You Do in the War, Ewan? is a reflection of this. Would that life could ever be so simple...

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 06:03 AM

And again, correcting the HTML!

I wrote a song whilst a member of Rhombus of Dooom at the time which was inspired by a tea-chest outside a whole-food store in Jesmond - an affluent / studenty suburb of Newcastle. This chest was for food donations for the families of the striking miners - and it was full of tofu, brown rice and organic herbal tea!

I feel the same sense of nausea towards the likes of Ewan MacColl who elected themselves as the Voice of the People in a time of real human suffering. Re: What Did You Do in the Strike, Daddy? - my thread title What Did You Do in the War, Ewan? is a reflection of this. Would that life could ever be so simple...

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 12:18 PM

"Old Soldiers" by Jon Heslop, recorded by Callenig on "Snowy Days of January" Album. I believe Dame Patti and Splotman still sing it.

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:40 AM

In answer to Suibhne above, the facts are that Ewan MacColl did not elect himself as a Voice of the People in the 84-85 strike. He was approached by members of the strike committee and asked could he write a song or two to help their cause. Obviously, they believed he was the best man for the task, despite what he may or may not have done in the war.
I feel his songs deserve mention in this project as they were sung during the strike. Did your song become part of the strikers repertoire ?

                                  Zozimus

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:48 AM

"I feel the same sense of nausea towards the likes of Ewan MacColl"
Oh dear - the same old necrophobia from he usual suspects.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Songs from the 84-85 miners strike
From: mark gregory
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 06:37 AM

2 more Ed Pickford Songs added to Union Songs today


The T- Shirts & The Blood

What Did Daddy Do?

commemorating 25th anniversary of the 1985/1985 miners strike in Britain

cheers

Mark