Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 11:10 PM

I'd be curious to know which Pacific Northwest songs are sung frequently in both Canada and the U.S. Anyone have any thoughts?

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 12:20 PM

Phil Thomas was the most prolific song collector of Western Canada. His collection of songs, Songs of the Pacific Northwest, was first published in 1979. It was recently revised and enlarged by Phil (edited by Jon Bartlett) and the second edition published this year by Hancock House Publishers after Phil's death in 2007. Most of the songs are from British Columbia, although a few are from Washington state. This is a real treasure trove of PNW songs.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 02:30 AM

Excellent--love the videos! Paddy Graber's singing on "Are You From Bevan" is great...I love the old labor tradition of writing a new tune to a familiar melody.

Does Phil Thomas have a standard collection? I suppose songs of the Pacific Northwest is the one to get...Is it mostly Canadian songs?

We're going down to meet Harry Stamper in the middle of January. I'm looking forward to it! He seems a nice guy and he's still writing song after song after song.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Stewart
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 07:37 PM

Are You From Bevan - Phil Thomas

The song tells in brief the story of a two-year episode in the
long struggle of the coal miners of Vancouver Island to have
the major mine owners accept their right to form a union.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 06:21 PM

Video from 2002 of Harry Stamper talking and singing, including some of "We Don't Come To Die".

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 09:12 PM

sorry, I meant to type "Amergin"

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 09:07 PM

Amerigen--Nope, that's not me...I play with the Low Tide Drifters, a folk group from Eugene.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Amergin
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 08:51 PM

Nathan, I have to ask....are you the same Nathan Moore that played at the Alberta Street Pub with the Myshkin Ruby Warblers on New Year's Eve, back in 2003?

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 08:45 PM

Bob--Thanks for the tip on Smokey Dymny...Hadn't heard of him before. The IWW song tradition is alive and well!

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 07:59 PM

IWW singing shit disturber Smokey Dymny spends half the year on Quadra Island in the Gulf of Georgia and has written many topical songs about things PNW. His song "Solidarity Is Easy" is on You Tube. He also has several songs posted at unionsong.com.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 07:54 PM

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Stewart
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 10:09 PM

Thanks Bob, I just made the correction.

Paddy is 86 years old now.
He has a fantastic life story,
someone should write a book about him.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 09:51 PM

Thanks for those links, Stewart. Holy doodle! What fun! Paddy Graber is top-notch.

The notes to "Degrading Incident" contain the phrase "Son of the Provence". This should probably read "the Sun or the Province". The Sun is Vancouver's afternoon newspaper, while the Province is the morning daily.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Stewart
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 09:34 PM

Nathan,

Sadly, Paddy Graber is no longer performing. He had a major stroke about a year ago, which affected his memory and ability to sing. He has improved some in recent months, but not enough to perform, and cannot visit the U.S. because of his health problems.

Fortunately, I was able to make recordings of him several years ago, some of which are on his CD, Paddy Graber - The Craic Was Great, which I produced in 2004. He is indeed a Canadian National Treasure.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: Lyr Add: WE JUST COME TO WORK HERE (Harry Stamper)
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 09:19 PM

Here's some lyrics by Harry Stamper, a longshoreman from Coos Bay. He's sent me a few of his CDs and he writes some of the best labor music I've heard.


WE JUST COME TO WORK HERE
By: Harry Stamper

I've been working here for fifteen years
And I've seen some changes come
I've seen some Okies called Californians
And I've seen some poets called bums
I've seen people working for safety
There must be a reason why
It may be we just come to work here
We don't come to die

I'd like to end up with all of my fingers
I don't want my brain to get numb
I'd like to have my ears when retirement nears
I'd like to hear the applause come
I'd like see my grandchildren
And pick them up if they cry
I just come to work here
I don't come to die

CHORUS:
Cause if it's always level on the floor where you're working
And your telephone is OSHA approved
When you tell me how much you're spending on safety
Pardon me if I'm not moved
'Cause ever since nineteen seventy
The law has been on my side
That's why we just come to work here
We don't come to die

Now you be the pitcher and I'll be the batter
You know that's just the old ball game
But when the lines start popping and that load starts dropping
Our situation's not the same
I'm not saying that you don't care
I'm not saying that you don't try
I'm saying we just come to work here
We don't come to die

Now you and I know that the things that aren't code
Could be fixed with relative ease
But we never did get anything
By asking on our knees
So now we're looking you straight in the eye
Shoulder to shoulder and side by side
Saying, we just come to work here
We don't come to die

Chorus

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 09:16 PM

Charlie: I found it! The LP that Archie put together is called Works Many Voices...Looks like there's two volumes. You can get it on Ebay. I'm definitely going to get myself a copy. Here's a link if anyone is interested: http://cgi.ebay.com/Works-Many-Voices-vol-1-sealed-LP-Archie-Green-/180561941155?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item2a0a5492a3

Are you still writing, Charlie?

MG-I would really appreciate it if you sent me an Mp3 of the kanaka song. My email is: [e-mail].   

Is Paddy Graber still performing, Stewart? He looks like he's done some great work.

Subject: Lyr Add: PASTURES OF PLENTY (Woody Guthrie)
From: sandinmyears
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 08:12 PM

"Pastures of Plenty" by Woody Guthrie makes mention of Oregon.

Pastures Of Plenty

It's a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Out of your Dust Bowl and Westward we rolled
And your deserts were hot and your mountains were cold

I worked in your orchards of peaches and prunes
I slept on the ground in the light of the moon
On the edge of the city you'll see us and then
We come with the dust and we go with the wind

California, Arizona, I harvest your crops
Well its North up to Oregon to gather your hops
Dig the beets from your ground, cut the grapes from your vine
To set on your table your light sparkling wine

Green pastures of plenty from dry desert ground
From the Grand Coulee Dam where the waters run down
Every state in the Union us migrants have been
We'll work in this fight and we'll fight till we win

It's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Stewart
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 08:07 PM

Here are three more songs by Paddy Graber about work and labor in British Columbia,
which I just added to our Pacific NW Folklore Society - Pacific NW Songs page.

Copper Mountain Raise - Paddy Graber
Degrading Tale of 1970 - Paddy Graber
Hope-Princeton Slide - Paddy Graber

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: GUEST,Charlie Frederick
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 07:01 AM

My song "Twenty-None More Men" appears on an album put together by the late Archie Green...a famous researcher in folklore and music. The two albums consisted of songs about various kinds of work. I met Archie when I was living in Venice, California in the 80's. A great guy and a tremendous influence on folklore. Archie's collection was donated to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...my old alma mater.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 05:01 AM

I don't know of any US collections..some from BC...we were a state that really spoke languages other than English in the fisheries and woods etc..German on a lot of the farms..Swiss maybe on dairy farms...when you lose the language you lose the songs too... I will send you a mp3 of kanaka song.

We should really get together and collect a bunch of what we have. Jon Pfaff of Seattle has put together some really great collections at folklife on various topics..mg

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 02:05 AM

I just listened to Gordon Carter's "The Day They Shot Ginger Down." What a great song!

Thank you for all of the suggestions, folks...keep 'em coming...I'm going to go through everything bit by bit...

Thanks MG and open mike for the tip about the kanaka people...I was just reading about them in a book about the Pacific NW but was unaware of any songs. Is there anywhere online to hear the song about pile drivers on the Columbia?

Great tip about the Everett Library--I'll be contacting David Dilguard.

Has anyone compiled/released a collection of Pacific NW work and labor songs? I haven't seen anything yet. I know Bucky Halker put out a collection of Illinois labor songs...might be nice to have something for this region since we have such a varied and interesting occupational history.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Barbara
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 12:05 AM

And there's the Tree Planting Song by Becky Bernson. She wrote a lot of good pacific NW songs before she died in 2000. I've got her songbook. PM me.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:00 PM

Thanks for the Everett Library lead, Deckman.

Stewart linked to Linda Allen's site (14 Dec 10 - 07:57 PM). She edited Washington Songs and Lore, which includes a number of union and working-life songs. It is out of print but not out of circulation. My ex-Seattle-Library copy cost only $4.50.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 08:13 PM

I have a kanaka song about kanakas used as pile drivers and voyaguers on the Columbia.

Also I should say Chinook jargon..couldn't rememberthe word..there was a Chinook regular language..I read in some bookthey were so traumatized by some epidemic they had before Lewis and Clark (not intentional via blankets etc.) that they lost their ability to speak in their own language. Chinook jargon of course is a language with words from many other languages. There were songs and prayers and books in it. Lots on internet. Katherine??? of B.C. has sung some songs with jargon in them..mg

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: open mike
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 07:58 PM

logger lover...stirs his coffee with his thumb...

there might be some songs that mention the Kanaka connection.
the kanaka people are hawaiians -- many of them worked in the
same mines and mills as the chinese workers. there are several
place names and geograhical areas with hawaiina names..aloha,
kanaka, etc.

speaking of which -- many of the western r.r. workers
were chinese...and we have many rock walls here in northern
callif. that were built by them...these walls have stood
the test of time...

don't forget woody guthrie roll on columbia roll on....
your power is turning our darkness to dawn....about the dam
(is it grand coulee dam?)

Fred Small has a song called Heart ofthe Appaloosa
which is about Nez Perce....

and although Montana might be a stretch...there is
a song about Mann Gulch firefighters who died....it
is called cold Missouri Waters....by James Keelaghan
i have refreshed the thread about this song..

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Stewart
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 07:57 PM

Hi Nathan,

You should definitely have a look at Linda Allen's CD, Washington Notebook - particularly:
Termination Winds - about Hanford employees and radioactive contamination.
Canaries in the Mine - Boeing workers and chemical poisoning in the workplace.
Si Se Puede - about members of the United Farmworkers of Washington in Granger.
Centrala - the Centrala Massacure of 1919 Wobblies (a very powerful song).

Songs of the Pacific Northwest has several PNW labor and work songs, including Paddy Graber's "Britaninna Mine" about a mine strike in B.C.

I also have field recordings of Paddy Graber (a traditional Irish Singer from Vancouver, B.C.) singing some of his songs relating to labor and work (mostly mining) in B.C.

And you should certainly check out "Songs of the Pacific Northwest," Phil Thomas' collection of songs (mostly from B.C.) and also a CD of many of those songs.

And check out our Pacific NW Folklore Society web page on Pacific Northwest Songs.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 06:19 PM

DEAR GUEST .... I have a suggestion for finding songs about the Everett massacre. Goggle "Everett Public Library ... Washington state. Go to the "Northwest Room." There, you can contact "David Dilguard." He's our resident historian. He knows Everett history forwards and backwards. Contact him and he may lead you to some songs. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 04:07 PM

Oh wow, thanks everyone for the suggestions...I'm definitely taking notes.

Nice idea mg to look into songs in Chinook Market Language. Have there been any recordings?

I haven't heard any songs on the Everett Massacre, but I bet someone has written one...I'd be surprised if there isn't one out there...I'll ask IWW singer Mark Ross (he lives in here in Eugene) and let folks know.

Reggie, where can I hear your music? Do you have a website? Nice lyrics, by the way.

I've found some great by General Strike, a band from the Washington area. Has anyone heard them yet...Nice lyrics written to old tunes by Jay Russo.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 11:47 AM

Of course there are lots of songs that John Bartlett and Rika Rubesat (hope I spelled it right..oops so worried about Rika's last name that I misspelled Jon's..should be Jon Bartlett..) have collected as well as the Phil Thomas collections. However, I think BC is well represented and that there are precious few songs we know of Washington, Oregon etc. I was talking with John P. and the late John Ross at a folklife years ago and they said that..but I said we don't speak Norwegian or Finn so we really don't know...I would keep beating the bushes for more local songs...also check out songs in Chinook market language. mg

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:53 AM

Postman ... as far as I know, I don't think the Everett massacre has made it to song yet ... but I might be wrong. There are many good accounts of the event. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: reggie miles
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:13 AM

Oops! I cut and pasted that one with one too many first verses. Gotta stop posting when I'm too tuckered to post

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 09:59 AM

I forgot to mention Enoch Kent's Ginger Goodwin song, track 10 on his latest CD "Take A Trip With Me".

This is my chance to ask if anyone knows of a song, old or new, about the Everett Massacre. I am also seeking songs about the IWW Free Speech actions.

Subject: RE: Seeking: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Song
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 04:42 AM

I always liked this one:-

Summer Wages - Ian Tyson (Youtube)

In the DIGITRAD HERE

Ross

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE A BUCK (R Miles)
From: reggie miles
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 01:49 AM

My Cd, <"War Mongerin' Man" © 2008>, might be a good place to look/listen. The following titles might be of interest, "You Can Be A Street Musician", "Chasin' The American Dream", "I Scraped My Knuckle", "Blue Collar Blues", "I'm Old", "Hell No To The WTO!" and the title cut. Some others that might also be of interest are, "Shopping Cart Wrangler", "100 Years", "Wall Street Bail Out Blues", "Too Little Money" and "Blackballed". Some of these are posted online as Mp3s but presently, are not on a Cd. Others, I play but I've not yet recorded.

The following is one that I'd like to add to my next Blues Cd. I released an earlier version of it on one of my recordings that is now out of print but I enjoy the version that I'm offering now much more and want to re-record it.

"I'll Do Anything To Make A Buck" by Reggie Miles

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll wash your car
Fix your truck
Unstick anything that's stuck
Even if it's caked with guck and muck
I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll wash your car
Fix your truck
Unstick anything that's stuck
Even if it's caked with guck and muck
I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll dig your ditch
Pick your fruits
Wash your clothes
Shine your boots
Got some corn you need to shuck?

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll cut your grass
Pull your weeds
Chop your wood
Plant your seeds
I'll do whatever meets your needs

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll clean your house
Cook your meals
Haul your water
Plow your fields
And I'll do it all in six-inch heels

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll paint your walls
Sweep your floor
Take your calls
Sell door to door
I'll bag your groceries at the grocery store

I'll do anything to make a buck

And I will sing your favorite song
I'll table dance all night long
Wearing nothing but a thong
Even if I know it's wrong
I won't give a flying duck

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll sell my body
Sell you dope
Sell you lies
And false hope
I'll sell my soul just to cope

I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll go to war
Kill your sons
Steal your freedom
Take your guns
I'll even rob your retirement funds

I'll do anything to make a buck

No, there isn't anything that I won't do
No deceit too great, profane or cruel
No deed to low, it don't matter who,
I have to screw or suck
I'll do anything to make a buck

I'll do anything to make a buck
I'll do anything to make a buck
I'll do anything to make a buck

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 12:52 AM

Don't forget the songs of the miners and railroaders, of the Unions and the Wobblies. Naturally, you'll include the cowboys, lumberjacks, and fishermen as well.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Don Firth
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 12:36 AM

Nathan, another web site you might check is Linda Allen's.

She lives in Bellingham, Washington, and is a singer, song collector, and song writer. Some years ago, she put out a couple of song books, complete with notes. One was Washington State Songs and Lore, which, I believe, she did on a Washington State grant. Another was The Rainy Day Song Book. I understand that they may be out of print, but you might check Linda's web site above and click the "Publications" link at the top of her "October Rose" page.

Or you could contact her through her web site. She could be a lot of help with your project.

Good luck!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 11:49 PM

I've been listening to the songs of Harry Stamper, a longshoreman from Coos Bay and an incredible songwriter. He wrote "We Just Come To Work Here"--a song about workplace safety featured on Smithsonian Folkways' Classic Labor Songs CD. Incredible!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Deckman
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 11:19 PM

YEP ... busy place, this Pacific Northwest!The folksingers I know, including the songwriters, are busier than a one armed trapper sacking wildcats! bob(deckman(nelson

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 11:18 PM

Wow, thanks everyone...I'm not too familiar with Ginger Goodwin's story, so this will give me a chance to learn a bit more about Canadian labor history.

I've got the Tugboat CD (which is excellent, folks!), but have yet to check out the Salmon Nation CD...

Where can I hear Hobe Kytr's music?   

Oh yeah, this is Nathan from the Low Tide Drifters...Thanks MG for mentioning us...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 10:12 PM

I think you want to buy our tugboat c d..all about tugs in PNW. Also check out Stewart's many links to NW songs..follow links from Don's clicky above. Stewart can also sell you a PNW CD he produced. Fisher Poets also includes some songwriters..in fact they are part of the Salmon Nation CD that is available..oh somewhere...also check out Fraser Union in B.C. They are on CD baby. Willapa Hills and Low Tide Drifters are some groups that deal with southern WA and northern OR. Hobe Kytr of Astoria is an unmatchable songwriter..and anything by Brownsmeade Flats is going to be good. I have a few songs on you tube with the women's music box project. Linda Allen has written some great songs as has Wes Wedell?? Well, that should get you started. l mg

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 10:02 PM

Also Lumberjack's Prayer & Where the Fraser River Flows

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:54 PM

Fifty Thousand Lumberjacks is in the mudcat listing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:49 PM

There are now at least seven songs about Vancouver Island union martyr Ginger Goodwin. The original, by Richard von Fuchs, can be found on Mark Gregory's Union Song site here. My favorite Ginger song is "The Day They Shot Ginger Down" by Gordon Carter, which can be heard in several versions on You Tube. Also on You Tube are songs by the Copper Stills and by David Rovic. Vancouver hard-core legend Joe Keithley has recorded a song about Ginger, as has Rodney Decroo.

Brother Goodwin was draft-dodging the Great War in the woods near Comox Lake when he was shot dead by rogue cop Dan Campbell in July 1918. They wanted him dead because he had led a strike for the eight-hour day at the Cominco smelter in Trail, B. C.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:45 PM

Excellent, thanks for the suggestions! Some good places to start...Let me know if you think of anything else...

I've heard Acres of Clams, but I haven't heard Sully's Pail...Looking forward to hearing that one...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:35 PM

Some pretty knowledgeable folks here:

The Pacific Northwest Folklore Society.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:28 PM

Picket Line Songs published by Red Dawn Press, Cincinnati, OH - 2000 has a few.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:14 PM

Sully's Pail
Acres of Clams

Have you checked the Digitrad? You're talking about Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, Alberta, Alaska....

Subject: Folklore: Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs
From: Nathan Moore
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 08:55 PM

Hey Folks: I'm currently putting together a collection of Pacific Northwest Work and Labor Songs. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm interested in both historical and contemporary songs. Anyone out there writing songs in this vein?