|
27 Oct 02 - 10:40 AM (#812448) Subject: Origins: Cotton Mill Girls From: GUEST,Robinpg hello all. I just recorded Cotton Mill Girls. I always thought it was a traditional song but have just seen that Hedy West owns a copyright on it from 1962, and so does another woman (whose name escapes me but she's listed on BMI's website). I'm not sure if these were arrangment copyrights with new lyrics or if in fact Hedy West composed this song. does anyone have any further info? you can e-m me privately at robinpg@aol.com or reply here. thanks. |
|
27 Oct 02 - 01:52 PM (#812562) Subject: RE: Origins: Cotton Mill Girls From: GUEST,Richie Here some info from my database: "The first strike by women workers occurred in 1828 when 400 women in Dover, NH walked off their jobs to protest working conditions. Life in the factories had not improved by the start of the 20th Century, and by the 1930's cotton mill girls were "turning out" in force with other workers demanding unionization, better pay and humane working conditions." I think the song is related somehow to "Barlow Knife". I have it listed as traditional from one source. Can you post your version? -Richie |
|
28 Oct 02 - 11:11 PM (#813390) Subject: RE: Origins: Cotton Mill Girls From: GUEST,Robinpg here's the version I have: It's hard times, Cotton Mill Girls, hard times, Cotton Mill Girls hard times, Cotton Mill Girls, hard times everywhere v1) I worked in a cotton mill all of my life, ain't got nothing but this Barlow knife It's hard times Cotton Mill Girls, It's hard times everywhere chorus v2) In 1915 we heard it said, move to the country & get ahead hard times Cotton Mill Girls, It's hard times everywhere chorus v3) Us kids worked 14 hours a day for 13 cents of measly pay it's hard times Cotton Mill Girls, It's hard times everywhere chorus v4) When I die don't buy me at allm, just hang me up on the spinning room wall pickle my bones in alcohol, it's hard times everywhere. Hedy West apparently owns the copyright on it although there's also a copyright attributed to another woman. I was shocked, I thought this was a real trad. folk song! Robin |
|
28 Oct 02 - 11:40 PM (#813404) Subject: RE: Origins: Cotton Mill Girls From: mg well, there are certainly some other great verses floating around... I don't know where I got mine from..some book I think.. Every morning at 7 ?? o'clock we get two cold biscuits hard as a rock Us cotton girls don't get enough for an ounce of tobacco and a box of snuff They docked me a nickle they docked me a dime they sent me to the office to get my time .... I think ;this is one of the all time great songs... mg |
|
29 Oct 02 - 04:08 AM (#813429) Subject: RE: Origins: Cotton Mill Girls From: Joe Offer Hi, Robin - I added crosslinks above to our previous thread (click) on the song. As you discovered, BMI has three entries:
1. BIRMINGHAM JAIL 118172 2. CARELESS LOVE 184301 3. CHILLY WINDS 207866 4. COTTON MILL GIRLS 247685 5. CRAWDAD 255257 6. DEEP BLUE SEA 289727 7. HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 589041 8. ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY 1116296 9. RAISE A RUCKUS 1227443 Why do I have a hard time believing that? I suppose West may have somewhat of a legitimate claim on the song, but you'll see in the other thread that she learned it from somebody else and copyrighted only her version. Hedy stopped by here at Mudcat a couple of years ago, but nobody has heard from her lately. No listing for "Cotton Mill Girls" at ASCAP. -Joe Offer- |
|
29 Oct 02 - 08:59 AM (#813514) Subject: RE: Origins: Cotton Mill Girls From: GUEST,Richie In my opinion as long as your lyrics aren't exactly the same as hers I doubt you have anything to worry about. If you've copied her version then you need to give her credit for it. -Richie |