INTROIlUCTION Long_playing rtcord L60 is a companion 10

L16 SOlIJ and Ballads Ihe Ahmci Min_ erJ issued b) tho Librar of Congro in 1948

This record consi~ls of songs reflecling thc folkwa)$ of bituminous (soh coal) miners of a gcneration ago before aUlomation wroughl ilS grealeSt social and economic changes The ltOJlgs

have hislorkal as well os inlrinsic cultural valuc TheS f1~ld rtltltdings were made in the bitushy

minous mincrs own cnvironment during 1940 as pan of a proj~~l crrieJ 01 wilh granl from lh~ Unil~d Minc Workers of America

My biluminous Collcclion covers far mOre of lhe folk musk spltClrum lhan do lhc songs nd oollOltfs from Ihe 3nlhrocile (hard col) mining region Thcre are Sveral reaSOnS for Ihis One bcing geographical Ihc anlhracile region is eonshyfincltJ 10 the nonheaslern pan of Ponnsylvania Biluminuous regions on lhe other hand cxtcnd from Pcnnsylvania dea aeroampgt lhe continent to lhe Pacific eoaSl

I concenlralcd my research in the following stales because they were lhe most promising from a eollectos standpoint Pennsylvania Ohio Indiana Illinois Virginia West Virginia Kenshytucky Tennessec and Alabama

My field work was performed chiefly in isoshylatcd and remote places Hundred of miles separaled coal camps from one anOlher To follow up leads occasionally required omighl lrain tides Or long dris over lortuous and haz_ ardous moullIain roads

I was often drien by a union field represcntshyalive who knew Ihe mine in his jurisdiclion and who was known hy lhcm This eased my way among miners suspieioUlt of all strange When in rapport wilh folksinge I found lhem both friendly and cooperative

Although bituminous coai was mined cven hefore the American Revolution lhc induSlry did nOl really get ilS tart until 1840 when irs firsl million tons wCre produccd chiefly by native while workers and Negro slaves

The earlicsl wamiddotcs of immigranl miners came to American coal fields from England Wale Scotland and Ireland in tho 1850s and Ig600 Skilled craftsmcn Ihe virtually look over lhc yonng bituminous industry inlroducing Old World mining m~lhods tools and terminology

They also inlroduced many mining rongs and ballads from the coal fields in Iheir homelands

A L Llod Englih folklorisl in a book Come All y IJld Minrs (London f952) says lhat the greater part of thc ballads (in his compilashylion) belong in the first half of lhe nineleenth cerllury

This marked the beginning of the period when British mincrs ballads croSd lhe Atlantic Not until the English-speaking immigranl mincrs had Igtcltomc orientoo did they turn to thcir New World environment for ipiralion in coining songs ont of ecryday expltriences

It is difficull to pinpoint the beginning of lhi~ pltriod bUl a good guess would be shortly aflcr he Citil War Onc of lhese ballads bears inshyIcrnal eidcnee of having been crealed in 1876 Two Cenl Coal sung hy David Morrison in his home al Iinlayville Pnsylvania ls a great $Ong he commented and manyS Ihe lime I 11ng it in lhc mines At eighty-one Mr Morrison probably was the oidesl bitumino miner to record for me in 1940

Like lhe anthracile mincrs the sofHoal mcn erealed a folk cuhurc all lhoir own When lhey began 10 CXp1CgtS their lhoughts and feelings about rhe American hiluminous environmenl immigram IJritish miners adapled lho baTdic and minSlrd arts common in their homelands In creating song and balladlt lhey usoo mctric pallern folk melodies and hymn tunelt familiar lhem Although lhe mining populalion wu dimiddotersificd coal camps were small enough 10 encourage neighborliness Miners drcw closer logether feeling and acling along similar lines Their uhimale homogeneity led 10 lhe rwlh of a tradilion hased on lhe bitumino industry Coal camps werc gcncrally integrated

Negroes who had made no discernible conshytribution to lhe body of anthracite songs and balladS played an outstanding role in lhe develshyopmenl of folk music in lbe bilUminous industry Negro slaves were probably lho first SOfl coal miners in the Unitoo Slales Commercial coal productin started in 1750 when an english company wilh slave labor operated an open_ face coal mine along the James River near Richshymond Virginia

In antebellum days Negro slaves in the Grtal Kanawha Valley Wost Virginia mined coal by hand and carried it on thcir backs in jute bags 10 landings along the Kanawha River Booker T Washington in his aUlobiogmphy Up fTonl

Slamiddottry tells bow as a boy slaw but recently SCt free be warked in a coal mille at Malden ncar Cbarlcton West Virginia After lbe Emanshycipation Proclamation many freed sla~s drilled imo soutbern coal_mining tales To tbeir disshymay they found working conditions just as frustrating in coal camps as tbey had becn On colton plantations Maybe more so

To escape ~ible punishment Negro laves had an equivocal meaning for the word frcc_ dom When questioned they explained that the frcedom in their ongs referred to the nCxt WQrld and had nothing to do with worldly things

As coal miners Negrocs Were similarly cir_ cumspect regarding the use of union Someshytimes the term referred to the Union Army

ometimes 10 a fraternal sociNy or organization but more often to tbe Uniled Mine Workers of America organized in 1890

Negro bituminous miners shoed a marked preference for country blucs as models for their improvised topical songs Blucs were sung as a solo with a guitar or ome other folk instshyment This was in coUlrat to the authracite miners ballads which were rarely sung with instrumental accompaniment

Many pi rituals originated in Churches The blue ere wNldly and sprang from everyday life The blues were more suited than spirituals for the miners purposc After a song had been created it was taken over by the folk Negro and wbite as an unquestioned poMession L60 has six blue songs recorded by white miners

For lunbt nform Golaquo Ko-on CI V h FhJdl fPhlodltlp~ 194)) ltcod 01 wh IIltW iodoc br Jobu Goltnnr (Hboto Po 1~6

AI_TilE liARD WORKhG MINER Sung by G C Gartin al Braeholm W Va 1940 Recorded by GeDrge Korson

Variant recorded Norton Va 1940 Sung by leo Glancy Harlan Ky Tet conlributed by Glady Smith of Stonewen W Va

1 Tbe hard workin mine Tbltr dan Ofe re And mny while workinl II mot hei d lallt They 001 hei Jty A all mine do Shu ou fom he~yfiVI

Aod ~ding Oilltgt 00

CHORUS T1Ilt miner i WelI him DO molt 000 wib he mioe Whor be COlt And my be he ready Thy 0011 0 oy And lookinllo leo TIle only lroe way

2 Hlt fvlaquo hi eompanion Anltl lilUlt one 100 Toern hem a fivi1 A1f mine Jo And while he wgt okin F tho$lt hot he fMed The gtoolJer hOI ehelt hi It ltme from hove

J Goo be wih he mine Poree he from hm And ltho1J him fmm don Wih Thy deor a Thn phy bi ~ hildn W~erever hey And toke him 10 Up in hen wit~ Thelt

A2-BLUE MONDAY Sung by Michael F Barry at Ncw Kenington Pa 1940 Reshycroed by George Korson

The mineS regarded a aloon a a poor mans club the only place outside of lhe local union

hall where men 01 dierSlt origin and clasbing nationalities mel ocial equalbull A Igtltgtisterou welcome was extended to all adull mine vmrke

The loon satisfrcd a miners craving for felmiddot lowsbip and offered balm lor wound ufferod in thc daily grind In the mellow atmosphere of lhe aloon billerneos was forgottcn men laughed witoom inhibition and their masculine bumor gkamed lhrough the darkness Mingled wilh humor wa ng

I went plto~n I Surdy nieht fnlenltlini 0 l onlt ~tink

TIle hoygt were all mina in fron of tho 1gt0 fllinl wlIgt they cook hink Ti en hey ~ otivin Roomnlt1 pin I neverW uh a meso of ltI A oun~ h bgttoOlIl ne

ClcIORUS Rut Olwoy lilt me hi Mondoy Bl Mondgt-Y ft y Yoor 000 bgtdrn1 you bvddy i mgtltl And he lthft will wk on doy Now Ill hve no more hlue MonltIy To mak~ my boi urn gnoy f11 join rhe Whi Rtgthon am rhen 111 be livin M wite the whole of Iy

2 The od 1Y nlt he di Moin men anJ ld 00 Thlty wetell ilttin ound he hI Tellnl wr hey couM ~o

a if hoy would only stay homlt Their ltloll no dim 0 V When rie ltgtme on they coold ina h i Opero your wk we don ~

AJ---TWOCENT COAl Sung by David Morshyrison al Finlayville Po 1940 Recorded by George Korson

Two-Cent Coal commemorales a major dis aMer on the Monongabela River car Pillburgh in 1876 Morri recollecled lhal lhe river wa frozen 10 a deplh of fourteen inche wbich wa deep enough I upport the crosing 01 a learn I horses hauling a wagonload of hay Bccause of the ice the river ooal mine were idle Irom

Christmas 10 late February The miners pooled meager resourCe to hep alive

Thcir plighl w worsened by a cut in wages from three cems 10 two cems a bushel the equvalam of fifty cefil bull IOJL When lhe icc bro~e suddenly lipples and other mine properly were deSlroyed and wept down he river The hapless miners interpreted this deslruction as Goos retribulion against the operalo for culshyling lhe mens wage

Thi lune is c10scly relaled to SOme veion of the come_all_ye ong Foreman Young MOnl (The Jam on Gerrys Rocks) Singer David Morrison follows the come-all-ye eutom 01 dropping inlo pea~ing voice on the last few yllahlc of lhe lai SlanUl

Oh Igtlt 00 i of 76 Hey me wih e om Unt M ~nd of Go-J cme do And made hem do ith 1laquo They obbed he min tad And dronk hi noin bowt Throuvgt JltWeny we - Iod TO ltIiI Oem two-cent I

~ Bvt he rver Ooln frorltn_ Of or IIlt poor might e Who did 110gtlt tyt _ y7 11 iu ha [e~ delteC For Go-J I t~ygt bullbull1lt tho ~

All hnr H lt100 01 II bouVgt the ilaquonlt Ho n it ltlown Anlt nl he cool

) Thi Ippl = tllaquo1 from om _iew Inlt ltlown tile rir -ent Tiley med 0 cry hy pd by You yran 00 laquopent f while you rob he min td RemeIIe you ~ I for ~o t i nlin laquope Thn lt0 Un YO wolton o~t

4 t 0 ltIudlt anltl 6n0 l u hlp Qur fellow mn And if ou broth in ~i

Ai ~m if you con To eo the woU It from bi door And heltltr hi fro be ltold TIl be apn oh1t m he ltrOf ~nin two-cent coat

A4_THE YOUNG LAllY WIlO MARRIED A ~IU[E ORIVR Sung by James T Downer at Slen1gtenville Ohio 1940 Rcshyltroed by George Korson

This song was rororded with ilS refrain A helt of a lime as sun~ by Mr Downer $clling up m portable recording equipment in his parlor I had consiltkrable lt1ilTtcully convincing him hal 1 would be propltr Itgt sing hell inshysted f bcc~

After I leI he seems to have been conscienceshyslric~en as indicIEcd by a letlet I rrceved from him cral days iater

[ wrile you in regaro to the song poem I san~ for you A Hcck-ltll-a-Tme gt0 nis letter began I lhink lhere is too much h __ bull or L in i1 I sugget you scralCh fTOm the record ll tnc Ls but aftcr he last or c1Qing gterse You my hve Itgt usc L after lhe first middoterSC I may have used L fler Ilhel first verse insted Qf A Hcc~_ ol_a_Time [n this ca you will have to uSC L fler firsl and lasl verses I n SOtry bm I noW see my misla~e It will OU11lt1 beuer Wilh not SO much h -- _ in it Try it

t Tile ~a 0011 Idy who hed gtt a mine woo m6ed ~ mle dri- nlt had ~ bee) of

i~

He ~tltl COm fOOl hj or It ltMltd with m To dirty the fl he h~d oily obbed A hlt11 of tlo

2 He wold pn hi a oudor n to1 embr And I he black mar11 o-or he bee He Walt jollyoltgtltI 1lt110 00 toved hi deor wiflt Bu be mdlt mle_e ile 01 h HIe A h1I of ime

J He mltt old hum ~ib a liul b~wn 01 And wagt tte ~ltinllllomlt hi itie to bUI Shlt hem lgtolth omi~ a-ltd~ tonbull AJ quickly ot ltltly 0 ii tbe bull n 1 bell 01 a timlt

bull Woe lie hod nni1gted shlt pu ry 0 bcd Bu lie chum nd tho url hikre Ooth ded Shlt the yoon Idy ~-ho lied mine Woo m id a mvl d and ad hee 01 bull

me A hlttl of limlt

bull

bullbull

bullbull

A5-11I pound DYING MINE BRAKpoundIIAN Sun lh uila by OrviILc J Jenks 1 WeLch W Vbull 1940 RKO~ by Georae Korson

In 1940 I reltonLcd 1M follown venioo of lhi ballad under different litles March 13 1 St Owlet VirJinia MOMue Wlsoa and Odclle Farmt lOfS Mlrch 21 II Loh1011y West VirJinia Lonaine Blke ampC My U II Bruholm Wtol VlrPnia Jcml Slanle) sinampC

om the widt dilf~ of these varian ts I w ncludtd Ihal lhe ballad W Q I favoite amon the mountaineer bilUmillOOJ miners

I tried trae lhe author UI identity d~ me until May 29 when I IMI OrviILc J Jenks in lhe bofutrict oIIke of lhe U iled Miftt Workers Arica II Wekh West Vipia

Whc Jenks lIad compIttfd Jill lhis balshylid laskcd him lhe SuII qion

Who me 11 upr

I did he replied unhcsltltinamply

Thi is how Jenk s described IIIlt origin of hi billalt

One day in ]915 when I WI workinamp as bull moIOrfIIan inside lhe No 3 mine of the Republic Coal Company at Corbin (Clbin C~k district) W VI IheK WI$ a wreck A mcoor hlndin nip or ltlIS wmin off lhe mouth ot 11h Idl which wlS preuy ulaquop

1 WI standin uill on the WIi enlry just bove the moulh of xtll Idl when the ~ccidenl hap~ned T he molorman had blaquon i ltin on the decI of lhe motor up in fronl and lhe yo brat_III WI$ on the Itirup in the rea of the _or hen bull loaded ca lICt 10 the motor was w~kcd The boy book n leaped in lhe cbrk Ind fell under lhe lrip Two con pU$ed oe him before Ihe lrip could be br(MIampb1 10 bull stop

I found his mansJcd tody under the Ihird tar The accident made Icrribk imprcUion on me ne idea for Ihe btolld tme 10 mt as I wu liftins the boys body from the bloody rncP All lhe wortb did 1101 rome t 000( 001 after mullinj the idea OYer In my mind for a week tIM ballad finally finished nd I -ole it dow_ 011 ~bull Then I i tlited ttl 10 iI

bullbull Sec LIooIllnln OdltIIMftIll~ _

So b 1OCft~middot $00 h tltppl rom h _

Oyi Lord middotb ba~ doDOr

-Hive J kltk4 m br~ fOOl _IIIlt I ~ aII lho 1gt0 dyiltl WolL I ied lui I

10 blt_

-I _ OIl io 1_middot

s 10lt - a 0 1000 s IIlt _ lid wury 1Itatl 50lt b oistlt 1Idilt 0 JoimC-_1gt0 11lt Nr

- V lt I am dfl _ 111 II 0 10lt

_ III pi bull _ - _111~t 00

-rn _ _--TlIeIlt - I _ 10 1tOoo N __ Ufamp_pIiq 1111lt - hille in rod

-r11 m 1 _ _Ip- All he welh 10 _WI I rlir Tile will II ~ 011lt1lt A mlaquoii he l if

-rh y 10lt I~_to Ioltr NI0~ no_ 10 ___

0 bricIM _ wo shy

A~nu COAI lQAI)ING MACIIINE Sulll by the Evening 6=_ Se~lel or Vivin W Va 1940 Ronkd 1 Welth W VI by (ipoundorgc Korson

CltOIlUS

TM _ _ bull t TltIL _ lIo t dol Who 10lt -- _ be nfl1ld

Tn IU dol

I Mi nmiddot pOol kboo owl Ie Mi n middot pOol JIltdltbooIfC _ 1lt l tlt bull oIotlar II 11t H _ we pIKe laut rt- h olt_ __i

Slamiddottry tells bow as a boy slaw but recently SCt free be warked in a coal mille at Malden ncar Cbarlcton West Virginia After lbe Emanshycipation Proclamation many freed sla~s drilled imo soutbern coal_mining tales To tbeir disshymay they found working conditions just as frustrating in coal camps as tbey had becn On colton plantations Maybe more so

To escape ~ible punishment Negro laves had an equivocal meaning for the word frcc_ dom When questioned they explained that the frcedom in their ongs referred to the nCxt WQrld and had nothing to do with worldly things

As coal miners Negrocs Were similarly cir_ cumspect regarding the use of union Someshytimes the term referred to the Union Army

ometimes 10 a fraternal sociNy or organization but more often to tbe Uniled Mine Workers of America organized in 1890

Negro bituminous miners shoed a marked preference for country blucs as models for their improvised topical songs Blucs were sung as a solo with a guitar or ome other folk instshyment This was in coUlrat to the authracite miners ballads which were rarely sung with instrumental accompaniment

Many pi rituals originated in Churches The blue ere wNldly and sprang from everyday life The blues were more suited than spirituals for the miners purposc After a song had been created it was taken over by the folk Negro and wbite as an unquestioned poMession L60 has six blue songs recorded by white miners

For lunbt nform Golaquo Ko-on CI V h FhJdl fPhlodltlp~ 194)) ltcod 01 wh IIltW iodoc br Jobu Goltnnr (Hboto Po 1~6

AI_TilE liARD WORKhG MINER Sung by G C Gartin al Braeholm W Va 1940 Recorded by GeDrge Korson

Variant recorded Norton Va 1940 Sung by leo Glancy Harlan Ky Tet conlributed by Glady Smith of Stonewen W Va

1 Tbe hard workin mine Tbltr dan Ofe re And mny while workinl II mot hei d lallt They 001 hei Jty A all mine do Shu ou fom he~yfiVI

Aod ~ding Oilltgt 00

CHORUS T1Ilt miner i WelI him DO molt 000 wib he mioe Whor be COlt And my be he ready Thy 0011 0 oy And lookinllo leo TIle only lroe way

2 Hlt fvlaquo hi eompanion Anltl lilUlt one 100 Toern hem a fivi1 A1f mine Jo And while he wgt okin F tho$lt hot he fMed The gtoolJer hOI ehelt hi It ltme from hove

J Goo be wih he mine Poree he from hm And ltho1J him fmm don Wih Thy deor a Thn phy bi ~ hildn W~erever hey And toke him 10 Up in hen wit~ Thelt

A2-BLUE MONDAY Sung by Michael F Barry at Ncw Kenington Pa 1940 Reshycroed by George Korson

The mineS regarded a aloon a a poor mans club the only place outside of lhe local union

hall where men 01 dierSlt origin and clasbing nationalities mel ocial equalbull A Igtltgtisterou welcome was extended to all adull mine vmrke

The loon satisfrcd a miners craving for felmiddot lowsbip and offered balm lor wound ufferod in thc daily grind In the mellow atmosphere of lhe aloon billerneos was forgottcn men laughed witoom inhibition and their masculine bumor gkamed lhrough the darkness Mingled wilh humor wa ng

I went plto~n I Surdy nieht fnlenltlini 0 l onlt ~tink

TIle hoygt were all mina in fron of tho 1gt0 fllinl wlIgt they cook hink Ti en hey ~ otivin Roomnlt1 pin I neverW uh a meso of ltI A oun~ h bgttoOlIl ne

ClcIORUS Rut Olwoy lilt me hi Mondoy Bl Mondgt-Y ft y Yoor 000 bgtdrn1 you bvddy i mgtltl And he lthft will wk on doy Now Ill hve no more hlue MonltIy To mak~ my boi urn gnoy f11 join rhe Whi Rtgthon am rhen 111 be livin M wite the whole of Iy

2 The od 1Y nlt he di Moin men anJ ld 00 Thlty wetell ilttin ound he hI Tellnl wr hey couM ~o

a if hoy would only stay homlt Their ltloll no dim 0 V When rie ltgtme on they coold ina h i Opero your wk we don ~

AJ---TWOCENT COAl Sung by David Morshyrison al Finlayville Po 1940 Recorded by George Korson

Two-Cent Coal commemorales a major dis aMer on the Monongabela River car Pillburgh in 1876 Morri recollecled lhal lhe river wa frozen 10 a deplh of fourteen inche wbich wa deep enough I upport the crosing 01 a learn I horses hauling a wagonload of hay Bccause of the ice the river ooal mine were idle Irom

Christmas 10 late February The miners pooled meager resourCe to hep alive

Thcir plighl w worsened by a cut in wages from three cems 10 two cems a bushel the equvalam of fifty cefil bull IOJL When lhe icc bro~e suddenly lipples and other mine properly were deSlroyed and wept down he river The hapless miners interpreted this deslruction as Goos retribulion against the operalo for culshyling lhe mens wage

Thi lune is c10scly relaled to SOme veion of the come_all_ye ong Foreman Young MOnl (The Jam on Gerrys Rocks) Singer David Morrison follows the come-all-ye eutom 01 dropping inlo pea~ing voice on the last few yllahlc of lhe lai SlanUl

Oh Igtlt 00 i of 76 Hey me wih e om Unt M ~nd of Go-J cme do And made hem do ith 1laquo They obbed he min tad And dronk hi noin bowt Throuvgt JltWeny we - Iod TO ltIiI Oem two-cent I

~ Bvt he rver Ooln frorltn_ Of or IIlt poor might e Who did 110gtlt tyt _ y7 11 iu ha [e~ delteC For Go-J I t~ygt bullbull1lt tho ~

All hnr H lt100 01 II bouVgt the ilaquonlt Ho n it ltlown Anlt nl he cool

) Thi Ippl = tllaquo1 from om _iew Inlt ltlown tile rir -ent Tiley med 0 cry hy pd by You yran 00 laquopent f while you rob he min td RemeIIe you ~ I for ~o t i nlin laquope Thn lt0 Un YO wolton o~t

4 t 0 ltIudlt anltl 6n0 l u hlp Qur fellow mn And if ou broth in ~i

Ai ~m if you con To eo the woU It from bi door And heltltr hi fro be ltold TIl be apn oh1t m he ltrOf ~nin two-cent coat

A4_THE YOUNG LAllY WIlO MARRIED A ~IU[E ORIVR Sung by James T Downer at Slen1gtenville Ohio 1940 Rcshyltroed by George Korson

This song was rororded with ilS refrain A helt of a lime as sun~ by Mr Downer $clling up m portable recording equipment in his parlor I had consiltkrable lt1ilTtcully convincing him hal 1 would be propltr Itgt sing hell inshysted f bcc~

After I leI he seems to have been conscienceshyslric~en as indicIEcd by a letlet I rrceved from him cral days iater

[ wrile you in regaro to the song poem I san~ for you A Hcck-ltll-a-Tme gt0 nis letter began I lhink lhere is too much h __ bull or L in i1 I sugget you scralCh fTOm the record ll tnc Ls but aftcr he last or c1Qing gterse You my hve Itgt usc L after lhe first middoterSC I may have used L fler Ilhel first verse insted Qf A Hcc~_ ol_a_Time [n this ca you will have to uSC L fler firsl and lasl verses I n SOtry bm I noW see my misla~e It will OU11lt1 beuer Wilh not SO much h -- _ in it Try it

t Tile ~a 0011 Idy who hed gtt a mine woo m6ed ~ mle dri- nlt had ~ bee) of

i~

He ~tltl COm fOOl hj or It ltMltd with m To dirty the fl he h~d oily obbed A hlt11 of tlo

2 He wold pn hi a oudor n to1 embr And I he black mar11 o-or he bee He Walt jollyoltgtltI 1lt110 00 toved hi deor wiflt Bu be mdlt mle_e ile 01 h HIe A h1I of ime

J He mltt old hum ~ib a liul b~wn 01 And wagt tte ~ltinllllomlt hi itie to bUI Shlt hem lgtolth omi~ a-ltd~ tonbull AJ quickly ot ltltly 0 ii tbe bull n 1 bell 01 a timlt

bull Woe lie hod nni1gted shlt pu ry 0 bcd Bu lie chum nd tho url hikre Ooth ded Shlt the yoon Idy ~-ho lied mine Woo m id a mvl d and ad hee 01 bull

me A hlttl of limlt

bull

bullbull

bullbull

A5-11I pound DYING MINE BRAKpoundIIAN Sun lh uila by OrviILc J Jenks 1 WeLch W Vbull 1940 RKO~ by Georae Korson

In 1940 I reltonLcd 1M follown venioo of lhi ballad under different litles March 13 1 St Owlet VirJinia MOMue Wlsoa and Odclle Farmt lOfS Mlrch 21 II Loh1011y West VirJinia Lonaine Blke ampC My U II Bruholm Wtol VlrPnia Jcml Slanle) sinampC

om the widt dilf~ of these varian ts I w ncludtd Ihal lhe ballad W Q I favoite amon the mountaineer bilUmillOOJ miners

I tried trae lhe author UI identity d~ me until May 29 when I IMI OrviILc J Jenks in lhe bofutrict oIIke of lhe U iled Miftt Workers Arica II Wekh West Vipia

Whc Jenks lIad compIttfd Jill lhis balshylid laskcd him lhe SuII qion

Who me 11 upr

I did he replied unhcsltltinamply

Thi is how Jenk s described IIIlt origin of hi billalt

One day in ]915 when I WI workinamp as bull moIOrfIIan inside lhe No 3 mine of the Republic Coal Company at Corbin (Clbin C~k district) W VI IheK WI$ a wreck A mcoor hlndin nip or ltlIS wmin off lhe mouth ot 11h Idl which wlS preuy ulaquop

1 WI standin uill on the WIi enlry just bove the moulh of xtll Idl when the ~ccidenl hap~ned T he molorman had blaquon i ltin on the decI of lhe motor up in fronl and lhe yo brat_III WI$ on the Itirup in the rea of the _or hen bull loaded ca lICt 10 the motor was w~kcd The boy book n leaped in lhe cbrk Ind fell under lhe lrip Two con pU$ed oe him before Ihe lrip could be br(MIampb1 10 bull stop

I found his mansJcd tody under the Ihird tar The accident made Icrribk imprcUion on me ne idea for Ihe btolld tme 10 mt as I wu liftins the boys body from the bloody rncP All lhe wortb did 1101 rome t 000( 001 after mullinj the idea OYer In my mind for a week tIM ballad finally finished nd I -ole it dow_ 011 ~bull Then I i tlited ttl 10 iI

bullbull Sec LIooIllnln OdltIIMftIll~ _

So b 1OCft~middot $00 h tltppl rom h _

Oyi Lord middotb ba~ doDOr

-Hive J kltk4 m br~ fOOl _IIIlt I ~ aII lho 1gt0 dyiltl WolL I ied lui I

10 blt_

-I _ OIl io 1_middot

s 10lt - a 0 1000 s IIlt _ lid wury 1Itatl 50lt b oistlt 1Idilt 0 JoimC-_1gt0 11lt Nr

- V lt I am dfl _ 111 II 0 10lt

_ III pi bull _ - _111~t 00

-rn _ _--TlIeIlt - I _ 10 1tOoo N __ Ufamp_pIiq 1111lt - hille in rod

-r11 m 1 _ _Ip- All he welh 10 _WI I rlir Tile will II ~ 011lt1lt A mlaquoii he l if

-rh y 10lt I~_to Ioltr NI0~ no_ 10 ___

0 bricIM _ wo shy

A~nu COAI lQAI)ING MACIIINE Sulll by the Evening 6=_ Se~lel or Vivin W Va 1940 Ronkd 1 Welth W VI by (ipoundorgc Korson

CltOIlUS

TM _ _ bull t TltIL _ lIo t dol Who 10lt -- _ be nfl1ld

Tn IU dol

I Mi nmiddot pOol kboo owl Ie Mi n middot pOol JIltdltbooIfC _ 1lt l tlt bull oIotlar II 11t H _ we pIKe laut rt- h olt_ __i

AI_TilE liARD WORKhG MINER Sung by G C Gartin al Braeholm W Va 1940 Recorded by GeDrge Korson

Variant recorded Norton Va 1940 Sung by leo Glancy Harlan Ky Tet conlributed by Glady Smith of Stonewen W Va

1 Tbe hard workin mine Tbltr dan Ofe re And mny while workinl II mot hei d lallt They 001 hei Jty A all mine do Shu ou fom he~yfiVI

Aod ~ding Oilltgt 00

CHORUS T1Ilt miner i WelI him DO molt 000 wib he mioe Whor be COlt And my be he ready Thy 0011 0 oy And lookinllo leo TIle only lroe way

2 Hlt fvlaquo hi eompanion Anltl lilUlt one 100 Toern hem a fivi1 A1f mine Jo And while he wgt okin F tho$lt hot he fMed The gtoolJer hOI ehelt hi It ltme from hove

J Goo be wih he mine Poree he from hm And ltho1J him fmm don Wih Thy deor a Thn phy bi ~ hildn W~erever hey And toke him 10 Up in hen wit~ Thelt

A2-BLUE MONDAY Sung by Michael F Barry at Ncw Kenington Pa 1940 Reshycroed by George Korson

The mineS regarded a aloon a a poor mans club the only place outside of lhe local union

hall where men 01 dierSlt origin and clasbing nationalities mel ocial equalbull A Igtltgtisterou welcome was extended to all adull mine vmrke

The loon satisfrcd a miners craving for felmiddot lowsbip and offered balm lor wound ufferod in thc daily grind In the mellow atmosphere of lhe aloon billerneos was forgottcn men laughed witoom inhibition and their masculine bumor gkamed lhrough the darkness Mingled wilh humor wa ng

I went plto~n I Surdy nieht fnlenltlini 0 l onlt ~tink

TIle hoygt were all mina in fron of tho 1gt0 fllinl wlIgt they cook hink Ti en hey ~ otivin Roomnlt1 pin I neverW uh a meso of ltI A oun~ h bgttoOlIl ne

ClcIORUS Rut Olwoy lilt me hi Mondoy Bl Mondgt-Y ft y Yoor 000 bgtdrn1 you bvddy i mgtltl And he lthft will wk on doy Now Ill hve no more hlue MonltIy To mak~ my boi urn gnoy f11 join rhe Whi Rtgthon am rhen 111 be livin M wite the whole of Iy

2 The od 1Y nlt he di Moin men anJ ld 00 Thlty wetell ilttin ound he hI Tellnl wr hey couM ~o

a if hoy would only stay homlt Their ltloll no dim 0 V When rie ltgtme on they coold ina h i Opero your wk we don ~

AJ---TWOCENT COAl Sung by David Morshyrison al Finlayville Po 1940 Recorded by George Korson

Two-Cent Coal commemorales a major dis aMer on the Monongabela River car Pillburgh in 1876 Morri recollecled lhal lhe river wa frozen 10 a deplh of fourteen inche wbich wa deep enough I upport the crosing 01 a learn I horses hauling a wagonload of hay Bccause of the ice the river ooal mine were idle Irom

Christmas 10 late February The miners pooled meager resourCe to hep alive

Thcir plighl w worsened by a cut in wages from three cems 10 two cems a bushel the equvalam of fifty cefil bull IOJL When lhe icc bro~e suddenly lipples and other mine properly were deSlroyed and wept down he river The hapless miners interpreted this deslruction as Goos retribulion against the operalo for culshyling lhe mens wage

Thi lune is c10scly relaled to SOme veion of the come_all_ye ong Foreman Young MOnl (The Jam on Gerrys Rocks) Singer David Morrison follows the come-all-ye eutom 01 dropping inlo pea~ing voice on the last few yllahlc of lhe lai SlanUl

Oh Igtlt 00 i of 76 Hey me wih e om Unt M ~nd of Go-J cme do And made hem do ith 1laquo They obbed he min tad And dronk hi noin bowt Throuvgt JltWeny we - Iod TO ltIiI Oem two-cent I

~ Bvt he rver Ooln frorltn_ Of or IIlt poor might e Who did 110gtlt tyt _ y7 11 iu ha [e~ delteC For Go-J I t~ygt bullbull1lt tho ~

All hnr H lt100 01 II bouVgt the ilaquonlt Ho n it ltlown Anlt nl he cool

) Thi Ippl = tllaquo1 from om _iew Inlt ltlown tile rir -ent Tiley med 0 cry hy pd by You yran 00 laquopent f while you rob he min td RemeIIe you ~ I for ~o t i nlin laquope Thn lt0 Un YO wolton o~t

4 t 0 ltIudlt anltl 6n0 l u hlp Qur fellow mn And if ou broth in ~i

Ai ~m if you con To eo the woU It from bi door And heltltr hi fro be ltold TIl be apn oh1t m he ltrOf ~nin two-cent coat

A4_THE YOUNG LAllY WIlO MARRIED A ~IU[E ORIVR Sung by James T Downer at Slen1gtenville Ohio 1940 Rcshyltroed by George Korson

This song was rororded with ilS refrain A helt of a lime as sun~ by Mr Downer $clling up m portable recording equipment in his parlor I had consiltkrable lt1ilTtcully convincing him hal 1 would be propltr Itgt sing hell inshysted f bcc~

After I leI he seems to have been conscienceshyslric~en as indicIEcd by a letlet I rrceved from him cral days iater

[ wrile you in regaro to the song poem I san~ for you A Hcck-ltll-a-Tme gt0 nis letter began I lhink lhere is too much h __ bull or L in i1 I sugget you scralCh fTOm the record ll tnc Ls but aftcr he last or c1Qing gterse You my hve Itgt usc L after lhe first middoterSC I may have used L fler Ilhel first verse insted Qf A Hcc~_ ol_a_Time [n this ca you will have to uSC L fler firsl and lasl verses I n SOtry bm I noW see my misla~e It will OU11lt1 beuer Wilh not SO much h -- _ in it Try it

t Tile ~a 0011 Idy who hed gtt a mine woo m6ed ~ mle dri- nlt had ~ bee) of

i~

He ~tltl COm fOOl hj or It ltMltd with m To dirty the fl he h~d oily obbed A hlt11 of tlo

2 He wold pn hi a oudor n to1 embr And I he black mar11 o-or he bee He Walt jollyoltgtltI 1lt110 00 toved hi deor wiflt Bu be mdlt mle_e ile 01 h HIe A h1I of ime

J He mltt old hum ~ib a liul b~wn 01 And wagt tte ~ltinllllomlt hi itie to bUI Shlt hem lgtolth omi~ a-ltd~ tonbull AJ quickly ot ltltly 0 ii tbe bull n 1 bell 01 a timlt

bull Woe lie hod nni1gted shlt pu ry 0 bcd Bu lie chum nd tho url hikre Ooth ded Shlt the yoon Idy ~-ho lied mine Woo m id a mvl d and ad hee 01 bull

me A hlttl of limlt

bull

bullbull

bullbull

A5-11I pound DYING MINE BRAKpoundIIAN Sun lh uila by OrviILc J Jenks 1 WeLch W Vbull 1940 RKO~ by Georae Korson

In 1940 I reltonLcd 1M follown venioo of lhi ballad under different litles March 13 1 St Owlet VirJinia MOMue Wlsoa and Odclle Farmt lOfS Mlrch 21 II Loh1011y West VirJinia Lonaine Blke ampC My U II Bruholm Wtol VlrPnia Jcml Slanle) sinampC

om the widt dilf~ of these varian ts I w ncludtd Ihal lhe ballad W Q I favoite amon the mountaineer bilUmillOOJ miners

I tried trae lhe author UI identity d~ me until May 29 when I IMI OrviILc J Jenks in lhe bofutrict oIIke of lhe U iled Miftt Workers Arica II Wekh West Vipia

Whc Jenks lIad compIttfd Jill lhis balshylid laskcd him lhe SuII qion

Who me 11 upr

I did he replied unhcsltltinamply

Thi is how Jenk s described IIIlt origin of hi billalt

One day in ]915 when I WI workinamp as bull moIOrfIIan inside lhe No 3 mine of the Republic Coal Company at Corbin (Clbin C~k district) W VI IheK WI$ a wreck A mcoor hlndin nip or ltlIS wmin off lhe mouth ot 11h Idl which wlS preuy ulaquop

1 WI standin uill on the WIi enlry just bove the moulh of xtll Idl when the ~ccidenl hap~ned T he molorman had blaquon i ltin on the decI of lhe motor up in fronl and lhe yo brat_III WI$ on the Itirup in the rea of the _or hen bull loaded ca lICt 10 the motor was w~kcd The boy book n leaped in lhe cbrk Ind fell under lhe lrip Two con pU$ed oe him before Ihe lrip could be br(MIampb1 10 bull stop

I found his mansJcd tody under the Ihird tar The accident made Icrribk imprcUion on me ne idea for Ihe btolld tme 10 mt as I wu liftins the boys body from the bloody rncP All lhe wortb did 1101 rome t 000( 001 after mullinj the idea OYer In my mind for a week tIM ballad finally finished nd I -ole it dow_ 011 ~bull Then I i tlited ttl 10 iI

bullbull Sec LIooIllnln OdltIIMftIll~ _

So b 1OCft~middot $00 h tltppl rom h _

Oyi Lord middotb ba~ doDOr

-Hive J kltk4 m br~ fOOl _IIIlt I ~ aII lho 1gt0 dyiltl WolL I ied lui I

10 blt_

-I _ OIl io 1_middot

s 10lt - a 0 1000 s IIlt _ lid wury 1Itatl 50lt b oistlt 1Idilt 0 JoimC-_1gt0 11lt Nr

- V lt I am dfl _ 111 II 0 10lt

_ III pi bull _ - _111~t 00

-rn _ _--TlIeIlt - I _ 10 1tOoo N __ Ufamp_pIiq 1111lt - hille in rod

-r11 m 1 _ _Ip- All he welh 10 _WI I rlir Tile will II ~ 011lt1lt A mlaquoii he l if

-rh y 10lt I~_to Ioltr NI0~ no_ 10 ___

0 bricIM _ wo shy

A~nu COAI lQAI)ING MACIIINE Sulll by the Evening 6=_ Se~lel or Vivin W Va 1940 Ronkd 1 Welth W VI by (ipoundorgc Korson

CltOIlUS

TM _ _ bull t TltIL _ lIo t dol Who 10lt -- _ be nfl1ld

Tn IU dol

I Mi nmiddot pOol kboo owl Ie Mi n middot pOol JIltdltbooIfC _ 1lt l tlt bull oIotlar II 11t H _ we pIKe laut rt- h olt_ __i

Christmas 10 late February The miners pooled meager resourCe to hep alive

Thcir plighl w worsened by a cut in wages from three cems 10 two cems a bushel the equvalam of fifty cefil bull IOJL When lhe icc bro~e suddenly lipples and other mine properly were deSlroyed and wept down he river The hapless miners interpreted this deslruction as Goos retribulion against the operalo for culshyling lhe mens wage

Thi lune is c10scly relaled to SOme veion of the come_all_ye ong Foreman Young MOnl (The Jam on Gerrys Rocks) Singer David Morrison follows the come-all-ye eutom 01 dropping inlo pea~ing voice on the last few yllahlc of lhe lai SlanUl

Oh Igtlt 00 i of 76 Hey me wih e om Unt M ~nd of Go-J cme do And made hem do ith 1laquo They obbed he min tad And dronk hi noin bowt Throuvgt JltWeny we - Iod TO ltIiI Oem two-cent I

~ Bvt he rver Ooln frorltn_ Of or IIlt poor might e Who did 110gtlt tyt _ y7 11 iu ha [e~ delteC For Go-J I t~ygt bullbull1lt tho ~

All hnr H lt100 01 II bouVgt the ilaquonlt Ho n it ltlown Anlt nl he cool

) Thi Ippl = tllaquo1 from om _iew Inlt ltlown tile rir -ent Tiley med 0 cry hy pd by You yran 00 laquopent f while you rob he min td RemeIIe you ~ I for ~o t i nlin laquope Thn lt0 Un YO wolton o~t

4 t 0 ltIudlt anltl 6n0 l u hlp Qur fellow mn And if ou broth in ~i

Ai ~m if you con To eo the woU It from bi door And heltltr hi fro be ltold TIl be apn oh1t m he ltrOf ~nin two-cent coat

A4_THE YOUNG LAllY WIlO MARRIED A ~IU[E ORIVR Sung by James T Downer at Slen1gtenville Ohio 1940 Rcshyltroed by George Korson

This song was rororded with ilS refrain A helt of a lime as sun~ by Mr Downer $clling up m portable recording equipment in his parlor I had consiltkrable lt1ilTtcully convincing him hal 1 would be propltr Itgt sing hell inshysted f bcc~

After I leI he seems to have been conscienceshyslric~en as indicIEcd by a letlet I rrceved from him cral days iater

[ wrile you in regaro to the song poem I san~ for you A Hcck-ltll-a-Tme gt0 nis letter began I lhink lhere is too much h __ bull or L in i1 I sugget you scralCh fTOm the record ll tnc Ls but aftcr he last or c1Qing gterse You my hve Itgt usc L after lhe first middoterSC I may have used L fler Ilhel first verse insted Qf A Hcc~_ ol_a_Time [n this ca you will have to uSC L fler firsl and lasl verses I n SOtry bm I noW see my misla~e It will OU11lt1 beuer Wilh not SO much h -- _ in it Try it

t Tile ~a 0011 Idy who hed gtt a mine woo m6ed ~ mle dri- nlt had ~ bee) of

i~

He ~tltl COm fOOl hj or It ltMltd with m To dirty the fl he h~d oily obbed A hlt11 of tlo

2 He wold pn hi a oudor n to1 embr And I he black mar11 o-or he bee He Walt jollyoltgtltI 1lt110 00 toved hi deor wiflt Bu be mdlt mle_e ile 01 h HIe A h1I of ime

J He mltt old hum ~ib a liul b~wn 01 And wagt tte ~ltinllllomlt hi itie to bUI Shlt hem lgtolth omi~ a-ltd~ tonbull AJ quickly ot ltltly 0 ii tbe bull n 1 bell 01 a timlt

bull Woe lie hod nni1gted shlt pu ry 0 bcd Bu lie chum nd tho url hikre Ooth ded Shlt the yoon Idy ~-ho lied mine Woo m id a mvl d and ad hee 01 bull

me A hlttl of limlt

bull

bullbull

bullbull

A5-11I pound DYING MINE BRAKpoundIIAN Sun lh uila by OrviILc J Jenks 1 WeLch W Vbull 1940 RKO~ by Georae Korson

In 1940 I reltonLcd 1M follown venioo of lhi ballad under different litles March 13 1 St Owlet VirJinia MOMue Wlsoa and Odclle Farmt lOfS Mlrch 21 II Loh1011y West VirJinia Lonaine Blke ampC My U II Bruholm Wtol VlrPnia Jcml Slanle) sinampC

om the widt dilf~ of these varian ts I w ncludtd Ihal lhe ballad W Q I favoite amon the mountaineer bilUmillOOJ miners

I tried trae lhe author UI identity d~ me until May 29 when I IMI OrviILc J Jenks in lhe bofutrict oIIke of lhe U iled Miftt Workers Arica II Wekh West Vipia

Whc Jenks lIad compIttfd Jill lhis balshylid laskcd him lhe SuII qion

Who me 11 upr

I did he replied unhcsltltinamply

Thi is how Jenk s described IIIlt origin of hi billalt

One day in ]915 when I WI workinamp as bull moIOrfIIan inside lhe No 3 mine of the Republic Coal Company at Corbin (Clbin C~k district) W VI IheK WI$ a wreck A mcoor hlndin nip or ltlIS wmin off lhe mouth ot 11h Idl which wlS preuy ulaquop

1 WI standin uill on the WIi enlry just bove the moulh of xtll Idl when the ~ccidenl hap~ned T he molorman had blaquon i ltin on the decI of lhe motor up in fronl and lhe yo brat_III WI$ on the Itirup in the rea of the _or hen bull loaded ca lICt 10 the motor was w~kcd The boy book n leaped in lhe cbrk Ind fell under lhe lrip Two con pU$ed oe him before Ihe lrip could be br(MIampb1 10 bull stop

I found his mansJcd tody under the Ihird tar The accident made Icrribk imprcUion on me ne idea for Ihe btolld tme 10 mt as I wu liftins the boys body from the bloody rncP All lhe wortb did 1101 rome t 000( 001 after mullinj the idea OYer In my mind for a week tIM ballad finally finished nd I -ole it dow_ 011 ~bull Then I i tlited ttl 10 iI

bullbull Sec LIooIllnln OdltIIMftIll~ _

So b 1OCft~middot $00 h tltppl rom h _

Oyi Lord middotb ba~ doDOr

-Hive J kltk4 m br~ fOOl _IIIlt I ~ aII lho 1gt0 dyiltl WolL I ied lui I

10 blt_

-I _ OIl io 1_middot

s 10lt - a 0 1000 s IIlt _ lid wury 1Itatl 50lt b oistlt 1Idilt 0 JoimC-_1gt0 11lt Nr

- V lt I am dfl _ 111 II 0 10lt

_ III pi bull _ - _111~t 00

-rn _ _--TlIeIlt - I _ 10 1tOoo N __ Ufamp_pIiq 1111lt - hille in rod

-r11 m 1 _ _Ip- All he welh 10 _WI I rlir Tile will II ~ 011lt1lt A mlaquoii he l if

-rh y 10lt I~_to Ioltr NI0~ no_ 10 ___

0 bricIM _ wo shy

A~nu COAI lQAI)ING MACIIINE Sulll by the Evening 6=_ Se~lel or Vivin W Va 1940 Ronkd 1 Welth W VI by (ipoundorgc Korson

CltOIlUS

TM _ _ bull t TltIL _ lIo t dol Who 10lt -- _ be nfl1ld

Tn IU dol

I Mi nmiddot pOol kboo owl Ie Mi n middot pOol JIltdltbooIfC _ 1lt l tlt bull oIotlar II 11t H _ we pIKe laut rt- h olt_ __i

bullbull

bullbull

A5-11I pound DYING MINE BRAKpoundIIAN Sun lh uila by OrviILc J Jenks 1 WeLch W Vbull 1940 RKO~ by Georae Korson

In 1940 I reltonLcd 1M follown venioo of lhi ballad under different litles March 13 1 St Owlet VirJinia MOMue Wlsoa and Odclle Farmt lOfS Mlrch 21 II Loh1011y West VirJinia Lonaine Blke ampC My U II Bruholm Wtol VlrPnia Jcml Slanle) sinampC

om the widt dilf~ of these varian ts I w ncludtd Ihal lhe ballad W Q I favoite amon the mountaineer bilUmillOOJ miners

I tried trae lhe author UI identity d~ me until May 29 when I IMI OrviILc J Jenks in lhe bofutrict oIIke of lhe U iled Miftt Workers Arica II Wekh West Vipia

Whc Jenks lIad compIttfd Jill lhis balshylid laskcd him lhe SuII qion

Who me 11 upr

I did he replied unhcsltltinamply

Thi is how Jenk s described IIIlt origin of hi billalt

One day in ]915 when I WI workinamp as bull moIOrfIIan inside lhe No 3 mine of the Republic Coal Company at Corbin (Clbin C~k district) W VI IheK WI$ a wreck A mcoor hlndin nip or ltlIS wmin off lhe mouth ot 11h Idl which wlS preuy ulaquop

1 WI standin uill on the WIi enlry just bove the moulh of xtll Idl when the ~ccidenl hap~ned T he molorman had blaquon i ltin on the decI of lhe motor up in fronl and lhe yo brat_III WI$ on the Itirup in the rea of the _or hen bull loaded ca lICt 10 the motor was w~kcd The boy book n leaped in lhe cbrk Ind fell under lhe lrip Two con pU$ed oe him before Ihe lrip could be br(MIampb1 10 bull stop

I found his mansJcd tody under the Ihird tar The accident made Icrribk imprcUion on me ne idea for Ihe btolld tme 10 mt as I wu liftins the boys body from the bloody rncP All lhe wortb did 1101 rome t 000( 001 after mullinj the idea OYer In my mind for a week tIM ballad finally finished nd I -ole it dow_ 011 ~bull Then I i tlited ttl 10 iI

bullbull Sec LIooIllnln OdltIIMftIll~ _

So b 1OCft~middot $00 h tltppl rom h _

Oyi Lord middotb ba~ doDOr

-Hive J kltk4 m br~ fOOl _IIIlt I ~ aII lho 1gt0 dyiltl WolL I ied lui I

10 blt_

-I _ OIl io 1_middot

s 10lt - a 0 1000 s IIlt _ lid wury 1Itatl 50lt b oistlt 1Idilt 0 JoimC-_1gt0 11lt Nr

- V lt I am dfl _ 111 II 0 10lt

_ III pi bull _ - _111~t 00

-rn _ _--TlIeIlt - I _ 10 1tOoo N __ Ufamp_pIiq 1111lt - hille in rod

-r11 m 1 _ _Ip- All he welh 10 _WI I rlir Tile will II ~ 011lt1lt A mlaquoii he l if

-rh y 10lt I~_to Ioltr NI0~ no_ 10 ___

0 bricIM _ wo shy

A~nu COAI lQAI)ING MACIIINE Sulll by the Evening 6=_ Se~lel or Vivin W Va 1940 Ronkd 1 Welth W VI by (ipoundorgc Korson

CltOIlUS

TM _ _ bull t TltIL _ lIo t dol Who 10lt -- _ be nfl1ld

Tn IU dol

I Mi nmiddot pOol kboo owl Ie Mi n middot pOol JIltdltbooIfC _ 1lt l tlt bull oIotlar II 11t H _ we pIKe laut rt- h olt_ __i

J toIo IooyII dnk I DOltAIOII~ Kloc __~L

W bull il pck bono 0I0Il T_ t __rltolloc n 1 Jo ha _ abi

--SPR INKLE COAL DUST ON MY C RAV E Sun with JIliaf b)I Orville J Jenks at Welcb W Va ]940 Recorded by George Korwn

I on old laquol1li Ir And I lobolt for my n or in my mOf rd oki For sak of wif bob H_ a ilJs if For 1M prico ot na 0 itk p oh

CHO~US

_ lillt _ Iooy -10 _TO y _noU _ _4 1lt ho 1Iltnoe f $pltlnk laquogt01 cluu my mlgtr_ at Igtlt U MWA

1 M ltgtIIn i _ By i of is 11lt14 $bo _ 10 _ God )1 _I

Tritd (I bo7o - i joil For 1M prico bull ~ _ at

) - 0 io 0c1bullbulli ~p IIgt Ihlt foo bull bull H _ 1gt0lt he bore bwolf H bullbull1101 of powder

0lt his bull MinoshyIks lIooIi do h lillie ump of gel

bull bull _ _ 10lt1 Til if~__ n __ 100 jooI a fooln_ot __h_ _ ~ oW

AM - orntiot COOIIPIl

A8_TlIAT LITTLE LUM 011 COAL Sung wilh guiar by William March and Richard Lawson al Kenvir Ky 1940 Rlaquoordcd by George Korson

A bimminous coal mine wa ]ike I ~y built ~ndcround we work WI curied 011 in darknen Mat 0 a confused visitof igln look like an inexlricable labyrinth acually was a $)S

lenUlically laid OUI underround foCIOt) CUt OUI of rock and coal From (he dri fl mouth (or from he bollom of a lope or shaft whilthe~er he ennnce happened 0 be) here fan a avenue eal]td m ain enll) wide enOllampll lor a nil shyroad rxk his was (he principal (raelin way for lhe mine worters and for lhe ransportation of coal Driven of lhe main and al bull right Inde 0 it ert headings or IInnh enlies like laquoOS Ireel in a cily- Off IheK bunch enlfie Wert lhe room lhe daily wor klhops of lhe min

II was a mintr ask win he coal by adshyancing on he face of he $C am un (he room had blaquon mined OUl when he would move 011 10 anotber room The side waUs ealled ~ribo~ ~ also of coal They kIt Standing ill col to support tIM roof unlil all he had been minro o ui Then one by one they were re1ricyened by me of Ulraordlnarily haurdou OJIioo coiled robbin ~

I O~ 10 tho 1gt0 know M And fgtlt one n1 do nolt CO 1I1tlt is mun 0 I bullbull lio yooWho mine 10 r Wbcn)OUT Ib tho I And _ ~ roll I and lhiftk wIIo 1td F [w l~tIe 1 or laquogtO~

1 011 he Jell ~p in He in IM 0 Nod AM 110 Imily Ik will kIIgtltI oI Ill God For to 1 1gtlt1 ~inI F rooo - so _ kin tbo To f_jy alOd_

J 010 he u bull M) brk Fill up blo~- f1asl Picts up hi lmp 0IId bock And roly I Ill k Soyoodby 10 il Dol lraquo Slop 0 kiu m 1 ~OOI H doe middot trio il hem In higt Me 0 _

bull

t Oil ooon btl_ bt _ 0 hlto up in ilt ploc bullAgt hi piltOltI gt11o Th pours 011 hi f- Oh homiddot illtI ok and y_

Two bou rollfd d B bt~ I oillt -~ 10 ouIIor

Till lit It abo _

OIl 10 _ n ij1 0 0lt

Ao4 roll __ tcmiddot _tItiol So lit n lOlls and bon Loodry ltor lit lt T m bull f liinl AIOd 0 h ltIhi m bull bull

II Wht-o ij OI bt Wo _ i 0 row Wdo __ _ ady

F ltbtI~d loio 0(

A ltaylIoi IgtII)iooa 10 p in alt 00 )01 ink i 0gt1 rOt r yhin flt

7 011 b Wo r_lt n bIo Ioioo to A n 0( _ pIo_

bOl is r OIl ~~ 0 _~ $0T _ _

n_f-- lilo God ~ rOt to be

So _rIgtr you ki On ibaldifl - 1_ oad hint Aad 0 lie MId Ano cIonl t lie ~

Of__~ _ JIWoe riod to His and trbullbull ~

So )001111 )OIIf pol ithto You va yoult ro TIle P or )OIIroMoo C_ 1gt 011 Y liro 0J0 juot bull din I Aoondllu n to d_ ltho

F tlIio ~Ic _ of

A9_ MUU SICINNIN BLUES Sun by Jltgte Glancy of Harlan Ky [940 Recorded by OeOfJC Korson al NorlOJl Va

1 All nd my shan door r 111 _nl If tbe~ btU n k I~ bull __ ot bullbull old WI ltkiD

C HORUS loI-d IBJ CJCgt oIgtltt 10 Y IonI LonI II _ 01 blues

2 Tbc _ drir its On 1Ie0Id of be old oct Sarinl h om on IIlt roll boys Iooki lot )001 bo_

CHOR US IonI LonI 1 ot bhs tohd 01ft 0amp01 oct 100 a- LotltI LonI 11lt otiniDmiddot-

J Top is bod aDd tillt 1RC1 i_ Scppedmiddotup hrOId ied up ik ~)OU lt1 bIo)OOI tw ~ i Wlgte you ltom lie 0 hit

CHORUS LOtd lltgtnI r MU gt1 III 1gtI d _~k IyoulorltI LonI __ -

BI- IIRIAN COUIITY BLUFs Sun willi l uila by ~ lgtovis al Glomlwr Ky bullbull ]940 Reoordcd by Oeorampr Korson

GCOtampr Davi is koown ail Oycr al~n K~nshyIlgtCky or hi mining $OI1p His i$ llIe aulhenic yuiQc 01 a ~rd and otk miMlrel

Asktd how he happntd 0 wril~ Ha lan C ly Blues~ pilat~lrummi GcorJc Davis p id 11 happDed in 1937 One cloy while silshylinl around in lle mine l1i fot lhe pump 10 pull a sump hole dry 100 wonb eamo 10 m~ I Quickly vabbed a OIIgh pilaquoe 01 paper and roiC them down wilh bull pci My dUk wll n old powder box and 100 lighl Came fOOl my OWn cabide lamp

When lie wrilinl 100 sonl Davis was a mine pumper Hlflan Counly Blucs his fitsl 1OnJ He lhily_lhrce )Can of aampe and

t Oil ooon btl_ bt _ 0 hlto up in ilt ploc bullAgt hi piltOltI gt11o Th pours 011 hi f- Oh homiddot illtI ok and y_

Two bou rollfd d B bt~ I oillt -~ 10 ouIIor

Till lit It abo _

OIl 10 _ n ij1 0 0lt

Ao4 roll __ tcmiddot _tItiol So lit n lOlls and bon Loodry ltor lit lt T m bull f liinl AIOd 0 h ltIhi m bull bull

II Wht-o ij OI bt Wo _ i 0 row Wdo __ _ ady

F ltbtI~d loio 0(

A ltaylIoi IgtII)iooa 10 p in alt 00 )01 ink i 0gt1 rOt r yhin flt

7 011 b Wo r_lt n bIo Ioioo to A n 0( _ pIo_

bOl is r OIl ~~ 0 _~ $0T _ _

n_f-- lilo God ~ rOt to be

So _rIgtr you ki On ibaldifl - 1_ oad hint Aad 0 lie MId Ano cIonl t lie ~

Of__~ _ JIWoe riod to His and trbullbull ~

So )001111 )OIIf pol ithto You va yoult ro TIle P or )OIIroMoo C_ 1gt 011 Y liro 0J0 juot bull din I Aoondllu n to d_ ltho

F tlIio ~Ic _ of

A9_ MUU SICINNIN BLUES Sun by Jltgte Glancy of Harlan Ky [940 Recorded by OeOfJC Korson al NorlOJl Va

1 All nd my shan door r 111 _nl If tbe~ btU n k I~ bull __ ot bullbull old WI ltkiD

C HORUS loI-d IBJ CJCgt oIgtltt 10 Y IonI LonI II _ 01 blues

2 Tbc _ drir its On 1Ie0Id of be old oct Sarinl h om on IIlt roll boys Iooki lot )001 bo_

CHOR US IonI LonI 1 ot bhs tohd 01ft 0amp01 oct 100 a- LotltI LonI 11lt otiniDmiddot-

J Top is bod aDd tillt 1RC1 i_ Scppedmiddotup hrOId ied up ik ~)OU lt1 bIo)OOI tw ~ i Wlgte you ltom lie 0 hit

CHORUS LOtd lltgtnI r MU gt1 III 1gtI d _~k IyoulorltI LonI __ -

BI- IIRIAN COUIITY BLUFs Sun willi l uila by ~ lgtovis al Glomlwr Ky bullbull ]940 Reoordcd by Oeorampr Korson

GCOtampr Davi is koown ail Oycr al~n K~nshyIlgtCky or hi mining $OI1p His i$ llIe aulhenic yuiQc 01 a ~rd and otk miMlrel

Asktd how he happntd 0 wril~ Ha lan C ly Blues~ pilat~lrummi GcorJc Davis p id 11 happDed in 1937 One cloy while silshylinl around in lle mine l1i fot lhe pump 10 pull a sump hole dry 100 wonb eamo 10 m~ I Quickly vabbed a OIIgh pilaquoe 01 paper and roiC them down wilh bull pci My dUk wll n old powder box and 100 lighl Came fOOl my OWn cabide lamp

When lie wrilinl 100 sonl Davis was a mine pumper Hlflan Counly Blucs his fitsl 1OnJ He lhily_lhrce )Can of aampe and

the father of three chUdn when he sang for me A native of La Follene Tennessee he comes of pioneer Scots-Irish stock With a guitar mmiddot ponded from his shoulder hc went everywhere singing not only Harlan County Blues~ but other songs which he had coined out 01 his coal mining experience

1 A bun of fltlIen the other dy 0lt 0 Hann wltnl Tlgtey old m boo tit un lIlty hd_ All h imlt io i~ tlty n

2 Mt of IIlt fltlIergt wlt like Illlt

Who d~o~ l Ion If yoo wn tb y bol )ugtt lin to hilOIll

l You didn have 10 be ~ron~ ligtlty 1

To ilt howe~ in th an TIgte Iy tbil yno needed he W iUII union mu

4 No of the bo dkln tiklt i multb They 001 hey to~ bad Thlty lhltir ~ni ox poltket bookbullbull 0 anyhi~ hey hd

5 They mlaquol BlI Whltdltn he ltan Wit oil hi pi 10gtlt Hlt ~ nltgt money 10 pay bull fine So hlty on oo~ hi l

6 Then KlIy id Yoo oon lt10 h mbull Wbt hey 0001lt te 1lt1 h~

1blt hell lhey cnmiddot he jaikr I

Yoo in he jon hlt mlt

1 Waite h lonny chp With mo yooll 11 lt Hltgt0gtlt ltgtltIe to hold 10 him When tit 1lt on a prlaquo

~ Delm h n Jon he ee Te uran w ben When wo fn picked him np Are 0 jail blt WltnC

9 p Rill She in h jilllo POI dl wlkinl Ihey oy They can bold OM 9ill fo that Cau be l y wlko MI y

10 Som Wrd wen 10 tillt jilhoose An~ he jail wirled hi keygt Som id Mr Jailer Now wt yoo liten Pbull

nom

II EYltrylhnllJw qui boy You Ido heo nd fun em ou Sam Wanl id Or Ill lun hi jail round

12 WOen hlty1I Ireed ainYoucoulJ h tlgtem1I take on) thn ~llh fun at wed mied If w ho~~ OUtlt Ionamiddot

13 Tlgten ou pidnr he ~ed 00 iltxHowJ you I 1001 SO wltl1fAnd TaylOr Com Igtuahd nJ bullbull1 Wby I 0 dk hllmiddot

1lt UOlJ 9er wen ewe hlt To dodlO lbe jail he JiJ Hlt d T1gtty~

lbo 11 yed oul o joil

II heyd ~P bullon hiJ

15 Now my IOIl$ ia nltkd Are 1 1Iop no 0 i lt If here hn pI lok u~

And 1 w i1 no more

B2--(OAL DIGCIN BLUES Sung with guilar by Jerrel Siantey at Braeholm W Va1940 Recorded by Geoge KOT$On

I Piflaquoen y0 n the 0001 mint Fe middotnl y Ionl me Fiftlaquon ya in Ib lt001 mne middotCoo lain fJ 1001 tOne Sollllt pullin Ifltti Soon pullin ninltty_I1ltmiddot Yodelyd hee

Thou I hd bull Iull Wy down Of Ihat IfOUOO

Tboulhl I bltd a -run Wy down lollounJ Mumiddot been th mioonAuinmiddot that 0001 ndYodelydheehlaquo

J Wtltn hat in 1lt11 BlgtoImIl pullin 10Whe hat in ~fl BrgtlthoImH = pullin tow My 1000 ui id Honey I hote 10 you 10 Yeddy J he h

bullllt

RJ-COAI IOADl N BLUF5 Sung by Joe Glancy a Harln Ky 1940 Recorded by George Korson

I Hltltgtmlt Old Mn dli ~ih laquo cinmiddot ~bDd~ ~middotih h Lonl lord I hltm laquogtolloodin bI

2 T~ up Y OoIom I~ do~ YO 1f1O~

Sl down yo 00 boy~ mcr~ oomimiddot b1O~ Lcrd lltgtId J 10 m lloodinmiddot bIltgt

J Go my hod in my pock Im loin 0 0 bull LorJ [d I fOl bltm ltoaltoaHn bl

~ Hy p d_ Vlt ~ ip My (0 IIlt rOO to d $(1m p lltgtr~ loltd I JOI laquoraquo11(0 bI

B4-IgtRILL MA N BLUES Sung by George Curley Sizemore at lochgelly W Va 1940 Recoded by George Kurwn

Recording George C (Curley) Siemorcs mine ballad~ in hi hume at lochgdly We1 Virginibull On March 27 1940 was an unpleasant expeience A rock driller in Ihe inc Sile_ 0 soffered rrom silkosis ur umiCr alhma on oecuplIional dia 3 ymptom or which hurlncu or balh lie aid neW ba llads take hape in his mind but he cannOt sing them pon_ laoltltgtO$I) beca use he would gct a mouthful of od dusl ir he parted his lips

I Jultltllobltdinmo 1)0 Old laquo l)iJli~ h_h ltlate and nd k Toll i rot blt of me

2 Rltgtltt ~ hIm t il mtI w mlt in Igtlt in FO( d h td 0 my Ibullbull~ nd c Illlt OOOn (Ioibullbull

l I 11lt my hamm ollinmiddot I lay down fory Iep ~middotr ~illiJ i lhe job 110lt Ih r will fltPlt~

II bullbull Old Pdlaquo nd now rv~ n 10 nHlh d loN ThaI ~ killin mo

l Im hinkn of poor drill mltn A y down in Iblt lIli Who fom eoi Ju will nd up WIh f ju like m

R5-IlIGNlTE BLUES Sung by Wesley J Turner at th foot uf Shomrk Mouma in in etern Kentud) 1940 Recorded b George Korso

On Mocb 211940 in eastcrn Kelue~y I elambefltd up a steep sliprcY rootpOlh halfway up Shamrock Moonalin balanced mylr on a foot log spanning Stony Fork C=k and rt shysumed cl imbing lU tbe top or Ihe mountain There I fouod a cabin h ooly sign or human habitation Living in the cabin wa a bil~minous coal miner Wesley J Turner who anS Hgnle [l lues

Slill weaing hi working clothes Turne met rOC and my drivcr Bill Clontz of Ihe Union at Ibe gale Hi mulo joined uS and was an apparshyently interested witness to our conversation

Tu rner cxplained that Ihi had tgtlte hi home for fifteeo years ever ince Igtc stalttCltl working in he Hignite mine aCm thi hollow He used Ihe mountain palh daily tu and from Ihe mine ~mancc and didt mind il at all CCCpl in Ihe wimcr wben he had tu pluugh through two fcel of ltnow

Turner informed us fulher Ihal he was once a right mart ingin man bul Igtcn [ invilw him 10 lti ng H ignie Blue bull he declined bcltausc Igtc was no longe a inninmiddot man By lhal he meant that he nu lungc sans lCltular wngl A revival in 1935 eem to have changCltl hilt attishytude tnward music Now he did his ~insing in lhe Free Will Baptist Church where he wa bull choirmater

Wiping the rcrspiralion fom my brow I pointed oU lhat he owed it tu po~tcity 10 have Ihe ballad elturded a Ima ll si n compared to other ins of mankind Wilh greal rduclance Igtc finally ageed to ing for me

Bill Clonl~ and I accompanied him 10 a linle cro$road$ Iore along a highway al Ihe foot of Shamrock Mountain I disconneeted a big while refribOralor 1ltgt plug in my porlable disc-recording machine Turner seltmed thrilled 10 heat hi$ voice On lhe playback bul remained unconshyvinced thaI he had done the righl lhing singing into my microphone

I A milo 0lt1 bull ~gtlf bock in he min ~1 gtmiddotIlIiomiddot gt11 OIIC mio hoe Iloy hoy 110 IIgtlt lIianl blolaquoshy

J T~mn pu ibullbulllt pl gty y laquo i d Illty Igtlty 1011gtlt Himic blu

J t ld 10 fo 0 gtlaquo bolt HiltI 10 ok -0 001bullbullnd lltt oot shyIly hey C01h Hilnltlt bin

bull Im cn 0 lOe hlI 10 m~lt ol rQU Itmiddot up

y 0 rtlt laquogtmOli to do tillt

Hy COO lhe Hinl blult

lIup gt11 klnl 10 kn yo ~d

TIy Igty bir ireOO hnllgtltr ~

Hlty hey IIlt Ilicn 1gt1

6 Thlt~ ~ 110) cn II oor ~k

If On Sod~ )W 11 COOl gtocl AnJ bl Igtlt ltOde

1 Tom I id 10 nllymltn middot100 mo Oklt-ou

lIu yw 11I have 0 t 1gt00 I And btltk Igtlt Odbull

~ HiltI oSil hrlaquo 0lt)0lt1 You mlbullbullno orin whl w Jump k~ TOlt~

nu k lt0lt1lt

9 n~ ro lIIroW to qit_ Mrailtlrtlty ~rll hir tho Hoy y Itlt Hini bl

10 I oo~ my ltn In lhe hlI Tile laquogtmmill oltcltpod bo th II Thl he U bill

II Ty 001 WIo Gdllin of rook They doltlltd hi 011 din IIlt oouldo ltom book Such bl

86-PAYDAY AT THE MINE Fiddle lune Played on fiddle wi1h guilar by Charl~

Underwood al Price Hill W Va 1940 Recorded b) George Korson

87_TIllS WIIAT TilE UNION DONE Sung by Uncle George Jltgtnelt at Trafford Ala 1940 ReltltIrdeltl by Goo Korson

I ~all my viit 0 U1e George Jon~ in Trafford Alabama 00l March 19 1940 Han_ ford Knight and J W Healhcock IInion field rprICnltative$ droe me here from Birming_ bam

The Negm bard and folk minSlrel liV(d in a wmbllaquolown cabin hi~ home ioce 1raquo2 There were 11() windows in the cabin Of whal ole were window$ to a blind man As J pushed open Ihe creaking door a frighlened m01l1C scurried aCOIS Ihe RoO The fnmilllre comprised an old iron bcdgttcad an open grate wilh a low lire an anique lable and two or lh= broken chaifl

A cruleh under his ight arm and beating down on an old hickory stick with his Ioh hand Uncle Gcorge hobbled out of the darknelS 10 greel s The oice of Knight and Heathcock brought a grin of rlaquoltgtgnilion to hi face When I wa introduced he tended hi gnarled right hand Wih hi while cinkly hair and stooped houlders he looked he image of Illlt immonal Ue To He wore dark glasses a yellow $hirl blue weaer and blue lrouse

W belpcd hi out on the poreb where leanshying against 0 of lhe propgt he regated uS with Sllt)ie$ oul of his picturesque past Born in Greene County Albambullbull on August IS Isn Uneie George went lhrough Cn gade afler wbich he hired out as a hand On a COllon plantation

In 1889 he took a job as loader in Ihe Woodshywrd iron-ore mine at Beemer Two yefllaler he beeame a coal miner He joined the United Mine Workers of America during lhe mine national strike of 1894 Union progress in Alashybama wos maked by many bloody NUlebull With a grin he pointed 10 hi erippled leg and explained that be had been wounded in 1902 1 been hot at like a rabbil and been ltloin a linle ho01in myself he gtaid He eontinulaquol working in Alabama coal mines umil blindness

finally overtook him in 1914 Despite his sixty-cighl years he spoke in a

firm voice He was in good humor throughout the interview I was trud by ~is intelligence and grasp of current affairs Miners children made it possible lor him to keep abreaSI of t~e limes They called lor him and guided him 10 neighboring homes wbere be listened to thc radio and had newspapers read to him

Im eager to kecp in touch with what going on he exphinltd I get my logic Irom that

The whole coal camp of Trafford seemed to takc a personai interest ill hi well_being A deacon an elder and a lay preacher in various churches for many years he was able to attend services regularly

Throughout his career Uncle George sang church hymns and Negro spirituals He sang in church choirs down in the mines and on the picket line

Knowiedgc of the Bible and a large repertoire of spirituals led to his CareCr of local bard and folk minstrel

Therc waS much need in Alabamas coal camps lor ballad to record local events and inspire ~earlS burdened whh tmuble Upon Uncle Georges shoulders dcscended the bardic mantle

Shortly before each annual dimict convention he was visited by a committee of mine who ordered a new ballad 10 be ung by him af the coming convenlion After questioning them to delermine thc most limely and appropriale theme lie went ino a period of studying This meant that he searehed his memory for a suitable Bible theme and a hymn tune

On lhe day lhe district convention opened an automobile called at hi cabin and he rode to the meeting hall in stJte A lusly cheer went up as he w assisted 10 Ihc platform When he had finished singing his ballad lhe delegates applauded ehecred whistled and stomped lheir feet in boisterous but sincere approval

Uncie Gcorges balleted old hat was passed around the hall and came back 6IIed with mOIley There was no ltgtdor 01 charity about tbis gesture The miners understood hat they were paying a fee for a service that gave lhem great pleure and in lhat pirit Uncle George accepted lhe money He was living by his minstrelsy a proshyfeSSion rich in tradilion and full 01 honor in the mining country

1 In nioelaquoen bundred u lhirly-lbee Whn Mr Roosevelt lOOk hi He id to P~do loho L uio to uooo we mU$l he Cotnlt 1 woltk tuaehe Ak God to Jed lbe pln Ry i ime noh y w11 have be union lgtaltk pin

CflORUS Hooray floory Por the union we multt lttn ll the only orpnization Prolc he liv mao BoYlt-l mk 0 womo happy Our chitd clap Ier hd To ee be heerea~ n tle iOOd Wk clgto Seomn in thoolt hy nOn

Z Wllltn ~lt Pridentnd Jobn L lewi Had gtlined their deltrelt Tlgtey called for Milch n RgtnltVshyDIVmple mke tbe thte Go do n AIm otOlt e~y Ivnr mn Spred tbe n1t OVltT 1be Ion Wlt 10l h nioo bck Iain

J The 0gt0 tw [oil Pdeo RooseveltTh 00 he ope omad Gmiddot tl the men lhe ~t to 0101lt loin be unto of heir hoiolt When he liden ~d poeltt bi I We1I did hoot lor joy When hlt gtaid no operalOr herill or boso SOouldo botblaquo th unioo bt)V

bull In nno hndrltd n thlTty-hvo We w gtomelimd all blue Tvltnl room fom ple 0 ple TryiDI D finu gtome work 0 do If were coeful to find iob Thlt wa~ w gt0 tt W oonld Iy live In he gtummltr1ime_ Atmoll a-l in the foil

l Rdo wlt ~OI our unioo bod It verr d to v Old hi hi n ovlttt Were the topic of tho dVmiddot They wu gt0 flt of rUche An gt0 bgtltltv torn Our wlv hod to I bout hour Illtfo hlty could bt won

Now hbullbull Ih Goo he toltgtol ltIolhe$ Oft hei bach Crltplt de dunlt nd Ilt fin ilk blm And bro new M illlaquo blk hOi finlt sil k tod gtno FIolt lm hotbullbull Tho~rlt m pins ba un 0 ltIoI1v n he pgtltklt1O _I IOltl

ltProshyloygt h ho he 4

7 llefo Wlt Il0l umOll k Ou wi aIll mW _ bey 0 ltbh A pri d 11bull bullbull11 hey b d 8i welOl ou uni bKk They happ 1he while Si D n oI bullbull~ kind To nom b bullbully ~Ie

OS-WE noNE QUIT Sung by Sam lohn$OO al PugJo~ Scotts Run W Va 1940 Recorded by Ororge Korson

Thi braquoll ad wabullbullung by Ihe Scon Run miners during the 1930 strike They SlIng it to the lune 01 1 Can Tdl lhe World~ a Negro spiritual

CItORUS You ca U lbecoal ope ~ You ltaft ell tho Iraquony we ltlOlllt qit Toll hem ha Ibe middot~no b Toll h hOI An bh ro

he niltgt hv c 10 unlo m~ hOmlt

I Wbullbull up the OP boux 01 ~1

Veol did W bull p 00 the top 0 _ l ~ V I didK 1 di shyTho eIoect iq _pmbull [by _t me

fOt

Y he did my Loo-d t Yltgt he did

1 Bi old he gtI he othe dy V he did yeo he did Before middotd si IOCI hod 1 gtlt h plotbullbull V he dgtl my lOIdyK ltlid

) B~ old be open he ltloy Yeo he did yolt did They will b lt00 I hi Palaquo V he d~ my IeJr Y he ~id

8gtmoId 8i the Olber day V ~id~ he did Befo be ct beid oil tgtt od V dO K lie did

I19-A COAL IttiNERS GOOIgtBYF Sung by Rev Archie Conway at Man W Va 1940 Recorded by Owgc Korson

Conway created tbi song whllc lying Hat on hll back in a ca waiting for dealh Falling oJale had broken hi badlt and pabullbullljttd him from be waist down in lhe Guyan Eaampie mine in Ammiddot hcHidale Wclt Virginia in 1938 He sti11 be(lricdcn middotgtto he sang for me on May 28 1940

In a program beginning in 1949 the Union Welfare Fund gtem pplegic miners like Conmiddot way to hmpital where they were laught to walk again They wore also taugh a new trade to make them lttlfupponing again

I F yea 1 tve bclt~ _1 m I ~laquoI1 by i Ihlt Buo _Ioqrr t bull - ian- I h come 10 [b aIbo Iibull

2 1lt4 middoth Igtlt I ike 00 Of bm ~b t hve had quibullbull f No mr ~Y os 1 I bull my gtrOlthe hal Goo U be w hinIOmiddot you

3 Iohr H Ill II lid bou you F 110 kp veryone fret 1 111be __ i )lOll

$iDee ~it~ time fOl f

~ M y _ on rultly 1 recto 1 t hem-el p 1 N~ IonW I~ mlt do lIIlty beckoo Sinlaquo r d hOI I 1 i

$ Soon dy ll be Ne n 10

Then be 10)00 nion Y 111 de my lranltfer in h8 Who ob 1gt11 a DIP Ot ltIo~

wn b 0 loa In 1Iltven Up tbor wlgtoro lho p word R Wlllt Illlt gtu~n proi i our Fothor And ~ or or molltgtl

7 Ou Savio 11gt0 lti H iJ iodl 0 001ltbull bull Ione For Jf bN -milMe PlNdu ltlaily Iltgt God 011 tIgte tlmgtoe

I The Bible p 11gtlt Ib 1 And 1gt0 mltJnbo all too I _Th 00lt tho nl_ It wo writtlt lor mbullbullnd for you

9 No ikegt bullbullppltn In Il00 The bon 10 IIlt II I dtltlatt Th - i In __ I Igtopo I n_)011 P Itrc

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40

RJ-COAI IOADl N BLUF5 Sung by Joe Glancy a Harln Ky 1940 Recorded by George Korson

I Hltltgtmlt Old Mn dli ~ih laquo cinmiddot ~bDd~ ~middotih h Lonl lord I hltm laquogtolloodin bI

2 T~ up Y OoIom I~ do~ YO 1f1O~

Sl down yo 00 boy~ mcr~ oomimiddot b1O~ Lcrd lltgtId J 10 m lloodinmiddot bIltgt

J Go my hod in my pock Im loin 0 0 bull LorJ [d I fOl bltm ltoaltoaHn bl

~ Hy p d_ Vlt ~ ip My (0 IIlt rOO to d $(1m p lltgtr~ loltd I JOI laquoraquo11(0 bI

B4-IgtRILL MA N BLUES Sung by George Curley Sizemore at lochgelly W Va 1940 Recoded by George Kurwn

Recording George C (Curley) Siemorcs mine ballad~ in hi hume at lochgdly We1 Virginibull On March 27 1940 was an unpleasant expeience A rock driller in Ihe inc Sile_ 0 soffered rrom silkosis ur umiCr alhma on oecuplIional dia 3 ymptom or which hurlncu or balh lie aid neW ba llads take hape in his mind but he cannOt sing them pon_ laoltltgtO$I) beca use he would gct a mouthful of od dusl ir he parted his lips

I Jultltllobltdinmo 1)0 Old laquo l)iJli~ h_h ltlate and nd k Toll i rot blt of me

2 Rltgtltt ~ hIm t il mtI w mlt in Igtlt in FO( d h td 0 my Ibullbull~ nd c Illlt OOOn (Ioibullbull

l I 11lt my hamm ollinmiddot I lay down fory Iep ~middotr ~illiJ i lhe job 110lt Ih r will fltPlt~

II bullbull Old Pdlaquo nd now rv~ n 10 nHlh d loN ThaI ~ killin mo

l Im hinkn of poor drill mltn A y down in Iblt lIli Who fom eoi Ju will nd up WIh f ju like m

R5-IlIGNlTE BLUES Sung by Wesley J Turner at th foot uf Shomrk Mouma in in etern Kentud) 1940 Recorded b George Korso

On Mocb 211940 in eastcrn Kelue~y I elambefltd up a steep sliprcY rootpOlh halfway up Shamrock Moonalin balanced mylr on a foot log spanning Stony Fork C=k and rt shysumed cl imbing lU tbe top or Ihe mountain There I fouod a cabin h ooly sign or human habitation Living in the cabin wa a bil~minous coal miner Wesley J Turner who anS Hgnle [l lues

Slill weaing hi working clothes Turne met rOC and my drivcr Bill Clontz of Ihe Union at Ibe gale Hi mulo joined uS and was an apparshyently interested witness to our conversation

Tu rner cxplained that Ihi had tgtlte hi home for fifteeo years ever ince Igtc stalttCltl working in he Hignite mine aCm thi hollow He used Ihe mountain palh daily tu and from Ihe mine ~mancc and didt mind il at all CCCpl in Ihe wimcr wben he had tu pluugh through two fcel of ltnow

Turner informed us fulher Ihal he was once a right mart ingin man bul Igtcn [ invilw him 10 lti ng H ignie Blue bull he declined bcltausc Igtc was no longe a inninmiddot man By lhal he meant that he nu lungc sans lCltular wngl A revival in 1935 eem to have changCltl hilt attishytude tnward music Now he did his ~insing in lhe Free Will Baptist Church where he wa bull choirmater

Wiping the rcrspiralion fom my brow I pointed oU lhat he owed it tu po~tcity 10 have Ihe ballad elturded a Ima ll si n compared to other ins of mankind Wilh greal rduclance Igtc finally ageed to ing for me

Bill Clonl~ and I accompanied him 10 a linle cro$road$ Iore along a highway al Ihe foot of Shamrock Mountain I disconneeted a big while refribOralor 1ltgt plug in my porlable disc-recording machine Turner seltmed thrilled 10 heat hi$ voice On lhe playback bul remained unconshyvinced thaI he had done the righl lhing singing into my microphone

I A milo 0lt1 bull ~gtlf bock in he min ~1 gtmiddotIlIiomiddot gt11 OIIC mio hoe Iloy hoy 110 IIgtlt lIianl blolaquoshy

J T~mn pu ibullbulllt pl gty y laquo i d Illty Igtlty 1011gtlt Himic blu

J t ld 10 fo 0 gtlaquo bolt HiltI 10 ok -0 001bullbullnd lltt oot shyIly hey C01h Hilnltlt bin

bull Im cn 0 lOe hlI 10 m~lt ol rQU Itmiddot up

y 0 rtlt laquogtmOli to do tillt

Hy COO lhe Hinl blult

lIup gt11 klnl 10 kn yo ~d

TIy Igty bir ireOO hnllgtltr ~

Hlty hey IIlt Ilicn 1gt1

6 Thlt~ ~ 110) cn II oor ~k

If On Sod~ )W 11 COOl gtocl AnJ bl Igtlt ltOde

1 Tom I id 10 nllymltn middot100 mo Oklt-ou

lIu yw 11I have 0 t 1gt00 I And btltk Igtlt Odbull

~ HiltI oSil hrlaquo 0lt)0lt1 You mlbullbullno orin whl w Jump k~ TOlt~

nu k lt0lt1lt

9 n~ ro lIIroW to qit_ Mrailtlrtlty ~rll hir tho Hoy y Itlt Hini bl

10 I oo~ my ltn In lhe hlI Tile laquogtmmill oltcltpod bo th II Thl he U bill

II Ty 001 WIo Gdllin of rook They doltlltd hi 011 din IIlt oouldo ltom book Such bl

86-PAYDAY AT THE MINE Fiddle lune Played on fiddle wi1h guilar by Charl~

Underwood al Price Hill W Va 1940 Recorded b) George Korson

87_TIllS WIIAT TilE UNION DONE Sung by Uncle George Jltgtnelt at Trafford Ala 1940 ReltltIrdeltl by Goo Korson

I ~all my viit 0 U1e George Jon~ in Trafford Alabama 00l March 19 1940 Han_ ford Knight and J W Healhcock IInion field rprICnltative$ droe me here from Birming_ bam

The Negm bard and folk minSlrel liV(d in a wmbllaquolown cabin hi~ home ioce 1raquo2 There were 11() windows in the cabin Of whal ole were window$ to a blind man As J pushed open Ihe creaking door a frighlened m01l1C scurried aCOIS Ihe RoO The fnmilllre comprised an old iron bcdgttcad an open grate wilh a low lire an anique lable and two or lh= broken chaifl

A cruleh under his ight arm and beating down on an old hickory stick with his Ioh hand Uncle Gcorge hobbled out of the darknelS 10 greel s The oice of Knight and Heathcock brought a grin of rlaquoltgtgnilion to hi face When I wa introduced he tended hi gnarled right hand Wih hi while cinkly hair and stooped houlders he looked he image of Illlt immonal Ue To He wore dark glasses a yellow $hirl blue weaer and blue lrouse

W belpcd hi out on the poreb where leanshying against 0 of lhe propgt he regated uS with Sllt)ie$ oul of his picturesque past Born in Greene County Albambullbull on August IS Isn Uneie George went lhrough Cn gade afler wbich he hired out as a hand On a COllon plantation

In 1889 he took a job as loader in Ihe Woodshywrd iron-ore mine at Beemer Two yefllaler he beeame a coal miner He joined the United Mine Workers of America during lhe mine national strike of 1894 Union progress in Alashybama wos maked by many bloody NUlebull With a grin he pointed 10 hi erippled leg and explained that be had been wounded in 1902 1 been hot at like a rabbil and been ltloin a linle ho01in myself he gtaid He eontinulaquol working in Alabama coal mines umil blindness

finally overtook him in 1914 Despite his sixty-cighl years he spoke in a

firm voice He was in good humor throughout the interview I was trud by ~is intelligence and grasp of current affairs Miners children made it possible lor him to keep abreaSI of t~e limes They called lor him and guided him 10 neighboring homes wbere be listened to thc radio and had newspapers read to him

Im eager to kecp in touch with what going on he exphinltd I get my logic Irom that

The whole coal camp of Trafford seemed to takc a personai interest ill hi well_being A deacon an elder and a lay preacher in various churches for many years he was able to attend services regularly

Throughout his career Uncle George sang church hymns and Negro spirituals He sang in church choirs down in the mines and on the picket line

Knowiedgc of the Bible and a large repertoire of spirituals led to his CareCr of local bard and folk minstrel

Therc waS much need in Alabamas coal camps lor ballad to record local events and inspire ~earlS burdened whh tmuble Upon Uncle Georges shoulders dcscended the bardic mantle

Shortly before each annual dimict convention he was visited by a committee of mine who ordered a new ballad 10 be ung by him af the coming convenlion After questioning them to delermine thc most limely and appropriale theme lie went ino a period of studying This meant that he searehed his memory for a suitable Bible theme and a hymn tune

On lhe day lhe district convention opened an automobile called at hi cabin and he rode to the meeting hall in stJte A lusly cheer went up as he w assisted 10 Ihc platform When he had finished singing his ballad lhe delegates applauded ehecred whistled and stomped lheir feet in boisterous but sincere approval

Uncie Gcorges balleted old hat was passed around the hall and came back 6IIed with mOIley There was no ltgtdor 01 charity about tbis gesture The miners understood hat they were paying a fee for a service that gave lhem great pleure and in lhat pirit Uncle George accepted lhe money He was living by his minstrelsy a proshyfeSSion rich in tradilion and full 01 honor in the mining country

1 In nioelaquoen bundred u lhirly-lbee Whn Mr Roosevelt lOOk hi He id to P~do loho L uio to uooo we mU$l he Cotnlt 1 woltk tuaehe Ak God to Jed lbe pln Ry i ime noh y w11 have be union lgtaltk pin

CflORUS Hooray floory Por the union we multt lttn ll the only orpnization Prolc he liv mao BoYlt-l mk 0 womo happy Our chitd clap Ier hd To ee be heerea~ n tle iOOd Wk clgto Seomn in thoolt hy nOn

Z Wllltn ~lt Pridentnd Jobn L lewi Had gtlined their deltrelt Tlgtey called for Milch n RgtnltVshyDIVmple mke tbe thte Go do n AIm otOlt e~y Ivnr mn Spred tbe n1t OVltT 1be Ion Wlt 10l h nioo bck Iain

J The 0gt0 tw [oil Pdeo RooseveltTh 00 he ope omad Gmiddot tl the men lhe ~t to 0101lt loin be unto of heir hoiolt When he liden ~d poeltt bi I We1I did hoot lor joy When hlt gtaid no operalOr herill or boso SOouldo botblaquo th unioo bt)V

bull In nno hndrltd n thlTty-hvo We w gtomelimd all blue Tvltnl room fom ple 0 ple TryiDI D finu gtome work 0 do If were coeful to find iob Thlt wa~ w gt0 tt W oonld Iy live In he gtummltr1ime_ Atmoll a-l in the foil

l Rdo wlt ~OI our unioo bod It verr d to v Old hi hi n ovlttt Were the topic of tho dVmiddot They wu gt0 flt of rUche An gt0 bgtltltv torn Our wlv hod to I bout hour Illtfo hlty could bt won

Now hbullbull Ih Goo he toltgtol ltIolhe$ Oft hei bach Crltplt de dunlt nd Ilt fin ilk blm And bro new M illlaquo blk hOi finlt sil k tod gtno FIolt lm hotbullbull Tho~rlt m pins ba un 0 ltIoI1v n he pgtltklt1O _I IOltl

ltProshyloygt h ho he 4

7 llefo Wlt Il0l umOll k Ou wi aIll mW _ bey 0 ltbh A pri d 11bull bullbull11 hey b d 8i welOl ou uni bKk They happ 1he while Si D n oI bullbull~ kind To nom b bullbully ~Ie

OS-WE noNE QUIT Sung by Sam lohn$OO al PugJo~ Scotts Run W Va 1940 Recorded by Ororge Korson

Thi braquoll ad wabullbullung by Ihe Scon Run miners during the 1930 strike They SlIng it to the lune 01 1 Can Tdl lhe World~ a Negro spiritual

CItORUS You ca U lbecoal ope ~ You ltaft ell tho Iraquony we ltlOlllt qit Toll hem ha Ibe middot~no b Toll h hOI An bh ro

he niltgt hv c 10 unlo m~ hOmlt

I Wbullbull up the OP boux 01 ~1

Veol did W bull p 00 the top 0 _ l ~ V I didK 1 di shyTho eIoect iq _pmbull [by _t me

fOt

Y he did my Loo-d t Yltgt he did

1 Bi old he gtI he othe dy V he did yeo he did Before middotd si IOCI hod 1 gtlt h plotbullbull V he dgtl my lOIdyK ltlid

) B~ old be open he ltloy Yeo he did yolt did They will b lt00 I hi Palaquo V he d~ my IeJr Y he ~id

8gtmoId 8i the Olber day V ~id~ he did Befo be ct beid oil tgtt od V dO K lie did

I19-A COAL IttiNERS GOOIgtBYF Sung by Rev Archie Conway at Man W Va 1940 Recorded by Owgc Korson

Conway created tbi song whllc lying Hat on hll back in a ca waiting for dealh Falling oJale had broken hi badlt and pabullbullljttd him from be waist down in lhe Guyan Eaampie mine in Ammiddot hcHidale Wclt Virginia in 1938 He sti11 be(lricdcn middotgtto he sang for me on May 28 1940

In a program beginning in 1949 the Union Welfare Fund gtem pplegic miners like Conmiddot way to hmpital where they were laught to walk again They wore also taugh a new trade to make them lttlfupponing again

I F yea 1 tve bclt~ _1 m I ~laquoI1 by i Ihlt Buo _Ioqrr t bull - ian- I h come 10 [b aIbo Iibull

2 1lt4 middoth Igtlt I ike 00 Of bm ~b t hve had quibullbull f No mr ~Y os 1 I bull my gtrOlthe hal Goo U be w hinIOmiddot you

3 Iohr H Ill II lid bou you F 110 kp veryone fret 1 111be __ i )lOll

$iDee ~it~ time fOl f

~ M y _ on rultly 1 recto 1 t hem-el p 1 N~ IonW I~ mlt do lIIlty beckoo Sinlaquo r d hOI I 1 i

$ Soon dy ll be Ne n 10

Then be 10)00 nion Y 111 de my lranltfer in h8 Who ob 1gt11 a DIP Ot ltIo~

wn b 0 loa In 1Iltven Up tbor wlgtoro lho p word R Wlllt Illlt gtu~n proi i our Fothor And ~ or or molltgtl

7 Ou Savio 11gt0 lti H iJ iodl 0 001ltbull bull Ione For Jf bN -milMe PlNdu ltlaily Iltgt God 011 tIgte tlmgtoe

I The Bible p 11gtlt Ib 1 And 1gt0 mltJnbo all too I _Th 00lt tho nl_ It wo writtlt lor mbullbullnd for you

9 No ikegt bullbullppltn In Il00 The bon 10 IIlt II I dtltlatt Th - i In __ I Igtopo I n_)011 P Itrc

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40

Bill Clonl~ and I accompanied him 10 a linle cro$road$ Iore along a highway al Ihe foot of Shamrock Mountain I disconneeted a big while refribOralor 1ltgt plug in my porlable disc-recording machine Turner seltmed thrilled 10 heat hi$ voice On lhe playback bul remained unconshyvinced thaI he had done the righl lhing singing into my microphone

I A milo 0lt1 bull ~gtlf bock in he min ~1 gtmiddotIlIiomiddot gt11 OIIC mio hoe Iloy hoy 110 IIgtlt lIianl blolaquoshy

J T~mn pu ibullbulllt pl gty y laquo i d Illty Igtlty 1011gtlt Himic blu

J t ld 10 fo 0 gtlaquo bolt HiltI 10 ok -0 001bullbullnd lltt oot shyIly hey C01h Hilnltlt bin

bull Im cn 0 lOe hlI 10 m~lt ol rQU Itmiddot up

y 0 rtlt laquogtmOli to do tillt

Hy COO lhe Hinl blult

lIup gt11 klnl 10 kn yo ~d

TIy Igty bir ireOO hnllgtltr ~

Hlty hey IIlt Ilicn 1gt1

6 Thlt~ ~ 110) cn II oor ~k

If On Sod~ )W 11 COOl gtocl AnJ bl Igtlt ltOde

1 Tom I id 10 nllymltn middot100 mo Oklt-ou

lIu yw 11I have 0 t 1gt00 I And btltk Igtlt Odbull

~ HiltI oSil hrlaquo 0lt)0lt1 You mlbullbullno orin whl w Jump k~ TOlt~

nu k lt0lt1lt

9 n~ ro lIIroW to qit_ Mrailtlrtlty ~rll hir tho Hoy y Itlt Hini bl

10 I oo~ my ltn In lhe hlI Tile laquogtmmill oltcltpod bo th II Thl he U bill

II Ty 001 WIo Gdllin of rook They doltlltd hi 011 din IIlt oouldo ltom book Such bl

86-PAYDAY AT THE MINE Fiddle lune Played on fiddle wi1h guilar by Charl~

Underwood al Price Hill W Va 1940 Recorded b) George Korson

87_TIllS WIIAT TilE UNION DONE Sung by Uncle George Jltgtnelt at Trafford Ala 1940 ReltltIrdeltl by Goo Korson

I ~all my viit 0 U1e George Jon~ in Trafford Alabama 00l March 19 1940 Han_ ford Knight and J W Healhcock IInion field rprICnltative$ droe me here from Birming_ bam

The Negm bard and folk minSlrel liV(d in a wmbllaquolown cabin hi~ home ioce 1raquo2 There were 11() windows in the cabin Of whal ole were window$ to a blind man As J pushed open Ihe creaking door a frighlened m01l1C scurried aCOIS Ihe RoO The fnmilllre comprised an old iron bcdgttcad an open grate wilh a low lire an anique lable and two or lh= broken chaifl

A cruleh under his ight arm and beating down on an old hickory stick with his Ioh hand Uncle Gcorge hobbled out of the darknelS 10 greel s The oice of Knight and Heathcock brought a grin of rlaquoltgtgnilion to hi face When I wa introduced he tended hi gnarled right hand Wih hi while cinkly hair and stooped houlders he looked he image of Illlt immonal Ue To He wore dark glasses a yellow $hirl blue weaer and blue lrouse

W belpcd hi out on the poreb where leanshying against 0 of lhe propgt he regated uS with Sllt)ie$ oul of his picturesque past Born in Greene County Albambullbull on August IS Isn Uneie George went lhrough Cn gade afler wbich he hired out as a hand On a COllon plantation

In 1889 he took a job as loader in Ihe Woodshywrd iron-ore mine at Beemer Two yefllaler he beeame a coal miner He joined the United Mine Workers of America during lhe mine national strike of 1894 Union progress in Alashybama wos maked by many bloody NUlebull With a grin he pointed 10 hi erippled leg and explained that be had been wounded in 1902 1 been hot at like a rabbil and been ltloin a linle ho01in myself he gtaid He eontinulaquol working in Alabama coal mines umil blindness

finally overtook him in 1914 Despite his sixty-cighl years he spoke in a

firm voice He was in good humor throughout the interview I was trud by ~is intelligence and grasp of current affairs Miners children made it possible lor him to keep abreaSI of t~e limes They called lor him and guided him 10 neighboring homes wbere be listened to thc radio and had newspapers read to him

Im eager to kecp in touch with what going on he exphinltd I get my logic Irom that

The whole coal camp of Trafford seemed to takc a personai interest ill hi well_being A deacon an elder and a lay preacher in various churches for many years he was able to attend services regularly

Throughout his career Uncle George sang church hymns and Negro spirituals He sang in church choirs down in the mines and on the picket line

Knowiedgc of the Bible and a large repertoire of spirituals led to his CareCr of local bard and folk minstrel

Therc waS much need in Alabamas coal camps lor ballad to record local events and inspire ~earlS burdened whh tmuble Upon Uncle Georges shoulders dcscended the bardic mantle

Shortly before each annual dimict convention he was visited by a committee of mine who ordered a new ballad 10 be ung by him af the coming convenlion After questioning them to delermine thc most limely and appropriale theme lie went ino a period of studying This meant that he searehed his memory for a suitable Bible theme and a hymn tune

On lhe day lhe district convention opened an automobile called at hi cabin and he rode to the meeting hall in stJte A lusly cheer went up as he w assisted 10 Ihc platform When he had finished singing his ballad lhe delegates applauded ehecred whistled and stomped lheir feet in boisterous but sincere approval

Uncie Gcorges balleted old hat was passed around the hall and came back 6IIed with mOIley There was no ltgtdor 01 charity about tbis gesture The miners understood hat they were paying a fee for a service that gave lhem great pleure and in lhat pirit Uncle George accepted lhe money He was living by his minstrelsy a proshyfeSSion rich in tradilion and full 01 honor in the mining country

1 In nioelaquoen bundred u lhirly-lbee Whn Mr Roosevelt lOOk hi He id to P~do loho L uio to uooo we mU$l he Cotnlt 1 woltk tuaehe Ak God to Jed lbe pln Ry i ime noh y w11 have be union lgtaltk pin

CflORUS Hooray floory Por the union we multt lttn ll the only orpnization Prolc he liv mao BoYlt-l mk 0 womo happy Our chitd clap Ier hd To ee be heerea~ n tle iOOd Wk clgto Seomn in thoolt hy nOn

Z Wllltn ~lt Pridentnd Jobn L lewi Had gtlined their deltrelt Tlgtey called for Milch n RgtnltVshyDIVmple mke tbe thte Go do n AIm otOlt e~y Ivnr mn Spred tbe n1t OVltT 1be Ion Wlt 10l h nioo bck Iain

J The 0gt0 tw [oil Pdeo RooseveltTh 00 he ope omad Gmiddot tl the men lhe ~t to 0101lt loin be unto of heir hoiolt When he liden ~d poeltt bi I We1I did hoot lor joy When hlt gtaid no operalOr herill or boso SOouldo botblaquo th unioo bt)V

bull In nno hndrltd n thlTty-hvo We w gtomelimd all blue Tvltnl room fom ple 0 ple TryiDI D finu gtome work 0 do If were coeful to find iob Thlt wa~ w gt0 tt W oonld Iy live In he gtummltr1ime_ Atmoll a-l in the foil

l Rdo wlt ~OI our unioo bod It verr d to v Old hi hi n ovlttt Were the topic of tho dVmiddot They wu gt0 flt of rUche An gt0 bgtltltv torn Our wlv hod to I bout hour Illtfo hlty could bt won

Now hbullbull Ih Goo he toltgtol ltIolhe$ Oft hei bach Crltplt de dunlt nd Ilt fin ilk blm And bro new M illlaquo blk hOi finlt sil k tod gtno FIolt lm hotbullbull Tho~rlt m pins ba un 0 ltIoI1v n he pgtltklt1O _I IOltl

ltProshyloygt h ho he 4

7 llefo Wlt Il0l umOll k Ou wi aIll mW _ bey 0 ltbh A pri d 11bull bullbull11 hey b d 8i welOl ou uni bKk They happ 1he while Si D n oI bullbull~ kind To nom b bullbully ~Ie

OS-WE noNE QUIT Sung by Sam lohn$OO al PugJo~ Scotts Run W Va 1940 Recorded by Ororge Korson

Thi braquoll ad wabullbullung by Ihe Scon Run miners during the 1930 strike They SlIng it to the lune 01 1 Can Tdl lhe World~ a Negro spiritual

CItORUS You ca U lbecoal ope ~ You ltaft ell tho Iraquony we ltlOlllt qit Toll hem ha Ibe middot~no b Toll h hOI An bh ro

he niltgt hv c 10 unlo m~ hOmlt

I Wbullbull up the OP boux 01 ~1

Veol did W bull p 00 the top 0 _ l ~ V I didK 1 di shyTho eIoect iq _pmbull [by _t me

fOt

Y he did my Loo-d t Yltgt he did

1 Bi old he gtI he othe dy V he did yeo he did Before middotd si IOCI hod 1 gtlt h plotbullbull V he dgtl my lOIdyK ltlid

) B~ old be open he ltloy Yeo he did yolt did They will b lt00 I hi Palaquo V he d~ my IeJr Y he ~id

8gtmoId 8i the Olber day V ~id~ he did Befo be ct beid oil tgtt od V dO K lie did

I19-A COAL IttiNERS GOOIgtBYF Sung by Rev Archie Conway at Man W Va 1940 Recorded by Owgc Korson

Conway created tbi song whllc lying Hat on hll back in a ca waiting for dealh Falling oJale had broken hi badlt and pabullbullljttd him from be waist down in lhe Guyan Eaampie mine in Ammiddot hcHidale Wclt Virginia in 1938 He sti11 be(lricdcn middotgtto he sang for me on May 28 1940

In a program beginning in 1949 the Union Welfare Fund gtem pplegic miners like Conmiddot way to hmpital where they were laught to walk again They wore also taugh a new trade to make them lttlfupponing again

I F yea 1 tve bclt~ _1 m I ~laquoI1 by i Ihlt Buo _Ioqrr t bull - ian- I h come 10 [b aIbo Iibull

2 1lt4 middoth Igtlt I ike 00 Of bm ~b t hve had quibullbull f No mr ~Y os 1 I bull my gtrOlthe hal Goo U be w hinIOmiddot you

3 Iohr H Ill II lid bou you F 110 kp veryone fret 1 111be __ i )lOll

$iDee ~it~ time fOl f

~ M y _ on rultly 1 recto 1 t hem-el p 1 N~ IonW I~ mlt do lIIlty beckoo Sinlaquo r d hOI I 1 i

$ Soon dy ll be Ne n 10

Then be 10)00 nion Y 111 de my lranltfer in h8 Who ob 1gt11 a DIP Ot ltIo~

wn b 0 loa In 1Iltven Up tbor wlgtoro lho p word R Wlllt Illlt gtu~n proi i our Fothor And ~ or or molltgtl

7 Ou Savio 11gt0 lti H iJ iodl 0 001ltbull bull Ione For Jf bN -milMe PlNdu ltlaily Iltgt God 011 tIgte tlmgtoe

I The Bible p 11gtlt Ib 1 And 1gt0 mltJnbo all too I _Th 00lt tho nl_ It wo writtlt lor mbullbullnd for you

9 No ikegt bullbullppltn In Il00 The bon 10 IIlt II I dtltlatt Th - i In __ I Igtopo I n_)011 P Itrc

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40

finally overtook him in 1914 Despite his sixty-cighl years he spoke in a

firm voice He was in good humor throughout the interview I was trud by ~is intelligence and grasp of current affairs Miners children made it possible lor him to keep abreaSI of t~e limes They called lor him and guided him 10 neighboring homes wbere be listened to thc radio and had newspapers read to him

Im eager to kecp in touch with what going on he exphinltd I get my logic Irom that

The whole coal camp of Trafford seemed to takc a personai interest ill hi well_being A deacon an elder and a lay preacher in various churches for many years he was able to attend services regularly

Throughout his career Uncle George sang church hymns and Negro spirituals He sang in church choirs down in the mines and on the picket line

Knowiedgc of the Bible and a large repertoire of spirituals led to his CareCr of local bard and folk minstrel

Therc waS much need in Alabamas coal camps lor ballad to record local events and inspire ~earlS burdened whh tmuble Upon Uncle Georges shoulders dcscended the bardic mantle

Shortly before each annual dimict convention he was visited by a committee of mine who ordered a new ballad 10 be ung by him af the coming convenlion After questioning them to delermine thc most limely and appropriale theme lie went ino a period of studying This meant that he searehed his memory for a suitable Bible theme and a hymn tune

On lhe day lhe district convention opened an automobile called at hi cabin and he rode to the meeting hall in stJte A lusly cheer went up as he w assisted 10 Ihc platform When he had finished singing his ballad lhe delegates applauded ehecred whistled and stomped lheir feet in boisterous but sincere approval

Uncie Gcorges balleted old hat was passed around the hall and came back 6IIed with mOIley There was no ltgtdor 01 charity about tbis gesture The miners understood hat they were paying a fee for a service that gave lhem great pleure and in lhat pirit Uncle George accepted lhe money He was living by his minstrelsy a proshyfeSSion rich in tradilion and full 01 honor in the mining country

1 In nioelaquoen bundred u lhirly-lbee Whn Mr Roosevelt lOOk hi He id to P~do loho L uio to uooo we mU$l he Cotnlt 1 woltk tuaehe Ak God to Jed lbe pln Ry i ime noh y w11 have be union lgtaltk pin

CflORUS Hooray floory Por the union we multt lttn ll the only orpnization Prolc he liv mao BoYlt-l mk 0 womo happy Our chitd clap Ier hd To ee be heerea~ n tle iOOd Wk clgto Seomn in thoolt hy nOn

Z Wllltn ~lt Pridentnd Jobn L lewi Had gtlined their deltrelt Tlgtey called for Milch n RgtnltVshyDIVmple mke tbe thte Go do n AIm otOlt e~y Ivnr mn Spred tbe n1t OVltT 1be Ion Wlt 10l h nioo bck Iain

J The 0gt0 tw [oil Pdeo RooseveltTh 00 he ope omad Gmiddot tl the men lhe ~t to 0101lt loin be unto of heir hoiolt When he liden ~d poeltt bi I We1I did hoot lor joy When hlt gtaid no operalOr herill or boso SOouldo botblaquo th unioo bt)V

bull In nno hndrltd n thlTty-hvo We w gtomelimd all blue Tvltnl room fom ple 0 ple TryiDI D finu gtome work 0 do If were coeful to find iob Thlt wa~ w gt0 tt W oonld Iy live In he gtummltr1ime_ Atmoll a-l in the foil

l Rdo wlt ~OI our unioo bod It verr d to v Old hi hi n ovlttt Were the topic of tho dVmiddot They wu gt0 flt of rUche An gt0 bgtltltv torn Our wlv hod to I bout hour Illtfo hlty could bt won

Now hbullbull Ih Goo he toltgtol ltIolhe$ Oft hei bach Crltplt de dunlt nd Ilt fin ilk blm And bro new M illlaquo blk hOi finlt sil k tod gtno FIolt lm hotbullbull Tho~rlt m pins ba un 0 ltIoI1v n he pgtltklt1O _I IOltl

ltProshyloygt h ho he 4

7 llefo Wlt Il0l umOll k Ou wi aIll mW _ bey 0 ltbh A pri d 11bull bullbull11 hey b d 8i welOl ou uni bKk They happ 1he while Si D n oI bullbull~ kind To nom b bullbully ~Ie

OS-WE noNE QUIT Sung by Sam lohn$OO al PugJo~ Scotts Run W Va 1940 Recorded by Ororge Korson

Thi braquoll ad wabullbullung by Ihe Scon Run miners during the 1930 strike They SlIng it to the lune 01 1 Can Tdl lhe World~ a Negro spiritual

CItORUS You ca U lbecoal ope ~ You ltaft ell tho Iraquony we ltlOlllt qit Toll hem ha Ibe middot~no b Toll h hOI An bh ro

he niltgt hv c 10 unlo m~ hOmlt

I Wbullbull up the OP boux 01 ~1

Veol did W bull p 00 the top 0 _ l ~ V I didK 1 di shyTho eIoect iq _pmbull [by _t me

fOt

Y he did my Loo-d t Yltgt he did

1 Bi old he gtI he othe dy V he did yeo he did Before middotd si IOCI hod 1 gtlt h plotbullbull V he dgtl my lOIdyK ltlid

) B~ old be open he ltloy Yeo he did yolt did They will b lt00 I hi Palaquo V he d~ my IeJr Y he ~id

8gtmoId 8i the Olber day V ~id~ he did Befo be ct beid oil tgtt od V dO K lie did

I19-A COAL IttiNERS GOOIgtBYF Sung by Rev Archie Conway at Man W Va 1940 Recorded by Owgc Korson

Conway created tbi song whllc lying Hat on hll back in a ca waiting for dealh Falling oJale had broken hi badlt and pabullbullljttd him from be waist down in lhe Guyan Eaampie mine in Ammiddot hcHidale Wclt Virginia in 1938 He sti11 be(lricdcn middotgtto he sang for me on May 28 1940

In a program beginning in 1949 the Union Welfare Fund gtem pplegic miners like Conmiddot way to hmpital where they were laught to walk again They wore also taugh a new trade to make them lttlfupponing again

I F yea 1 tve bclt~ _1 m I ~laquoI1 by i Ihlt Buo _Ioqrr t bull - ian- I h come 10 [b aIbo Iibull

2 1lt4 middoth Igtlt I ike 00 Of bm ~b t hve had quibullbull f No mr ~Y os 1 I bull my gtrOlthe hal Goo U be w hinIOmiddot you

3 Iohr H Ill II lid bou you F 110 kp veryone fret 1 111be __ i )lOll

$iDee ~it~ time fOl f

~ M y _ on rultly 1 recto 1 t hem-el p 1 N~ IonW I~ mlt do lIIlty beckoo Sinlaquo r d hOI I 1 i

$ Soon dy ll be Ne n 10

Then be 10)00 nion Y 111 de my lranltfer in h8 Who ob 1gt11 a DIP Ot ltIo~

wn b 0 loa In 1Iltven Up tbor wlgtoro lho p word R Wlllt Illlt gtu~n proi i our Fothor And ~ or or molltgtl

7 Ou Savio 11gt0 lti H iJ iodl 0 001ltbull bull Ione For Jf bN -milMe PlNdu ltlaily Iltgt God 011 tIgte tlmgtoe

I The Bible p 11gtlt Ib 1 And 1gt0 mltJnbo all too I _Th 00lt tho nl_ It wo writtlt lor mbullbullnd for you

9 No ikegt bullbullppltn In Il00 The bon 10 IIlt II I dtltlatt Th - i In __ I Igtopo I n_)011 P Itrc

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40

Now hbullbull Ih Goo he toltgtol ltIolhe$ Oft hei bach Crltplt de dunlt nd Ilt fin ilk blm And bro new M illlaquo blk hOi finlt sil k tod gtno FIolt lm hotbullbull Tho~rlt m pins ba un 0 ltIoI1v n he pgtltklt1O _I IOltl

ltProshyloygt h ho he 4

7 llefo Wlt Il0l umOll k Ou wi aIll mW _ bey 0 ltbh A pri d 11bull bullbull11 hey b d 8i welOl ou uni bKk They happ 1he while Si D n oI bullbull~ kind To nom b bullbully ~Ie

OS-WE noNE QUIT Sung by Sam lohn$OO al PugJo~ Scotts Run W Va 1940 Recorded by Ororge Korson

Thi braquoll ad wabullbullung by Ihe Scon Run miners during the 1930 strike They SlIng it to the lune 01 1 Can Tdl lhe World~ a Negro spiritual

CItORUS You ca U lbecoal ope ~ You ltaft ell tho Iraquony we ltlOlllt qit Toll hem ha Ibe middot~no b Toll h hOI An bh ro

he niltgt hv c 10 unlo m~ hOmlt

I Wbullbull up the OP boux 01 ~1

Veol did W bull p 00 the top 0 _ l ~ V I didK 1 di shyTho eIoect iq _pmbull [by _t me

fOt

Y he did my Loo-d t Yltgt he did

1 Bi old he gtI he othe dy V he did yeo he did Before middotd si IOCI hod 1 gtlt h plotbullbull V he dgtl my lOIdyK ltlid

) B~ old be open he ltloy Yeo he did yolt did They will b lt00 I hi Palaquo V he d~ my IeJr Y he ~id

8gtmoId 8i the Olber day V ~id~ he did Befo be ct beid oil tgtt od V dO K lie did

I19-A COAL IttiNERS GOOIgtBYF Sung by Rev Archie Conway at Man W Va 1940 Recorded by Owgc Korson

Conway created tbi song whllc lying Hat on hll back in a ca waiting for dealh Falling oJale had broken hi badlt and pabullbullljttd him from be waist down in lhe Guyan Eaampie mine in Ammiddot hcHidale Wclt Virginia in 1938 He sti11 be(lricdcn middotgtto he sang for me on May 28 1940

In a program beginning in 1949 the Union Welfare Fund gtem pplegic miners like Conmiddot way to hmpital where they were laught to walk again They wore also taugh a new trade to make them lttlfupponing again

I F yea 1 tve bclt~ _1 m I ~laquoI1 by i Ihlt Buo _Ioqrr t bull - ian- I h come 10 [b aIbo Iibull

2 1lt4 middoth Igtlt I ike 00 Of bm ~b t hve had quibullbull f No mr ~Y os 1 I bull my gtrOlthe hal Goo U be w hinIOmiddot you

3 Iohr H Ill II lid bou you F 110 kp veryone fret 1 111be __ i )lOll

$iDee ~it~ time fOl f

~ M y _ on rultly 1 recto 1 t hem-el p 1 N~ IonW I~ mlt do lIIlty beckoo Sinlaquo r d hOI I 1 i

$ Soon dy ll be Ne n 10

Then be 10)00 nion Y 111 de my lranltfer in h8 Who ob 1gt11 a DIP Ot ltIo~

wn b 0 loa In 1Iltven Up tbor wlgtoro lho p word R Wlllt Illlt gtu~n proi i our Fothor And ~ or or molltgtl

7 Ou Savio 11gt0 lti H iJ iodl 0 001ltbull bull Ione For Jf bN -milMe PlNdu ltlaily Iltgt God 011 tIgte tlmgtoe

I The Bible p 11gtlt Ib 1 And 1gt0 mltJnbo all too I _Th 00lt tho nl_ It wo writtlt lor mbullbullnd for you

9 No ikegt bullbullppltn In Il00 The bon 10 IIlt II I dtltlatt Th - i In __ I Igtopo I n_)011 P Itrc

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40

wn b 0 loa In 1Iltven Up tbor wlgtoro lho p word R Wlllt Illlt gtu~n proi i our Fothor And ~ or or molltgtl

7 Ou Savio 11gt0 lti H iJ iodl 0 001ltbull bull Ione For Jf bN -milMe PlNdu ltlaily Iltgt God 011 tIgte tlmgtoe

I The Bible p 11gtlt Ib 1 And 1gt0 mltJnbo all too I _Th 00lt tho nl_ It wo writtlt lor mbullbullnd for you

9 No ikegt bullbullppltn In Il00 The bon 10 IIlt II I dtltlatt Th - i In __ I Igtopo I n_)011 P Itrc

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40

Ubrary of Conampress Calaos Card Number R65-3322 rev

Available from 11M ReoorOed Sound Section Mulilt ovigtion Ubrary of ConIfCSJ Waslringloo DC 2OS40