Blackleg Miner
Encyclopedia
Blackleg Miner is a 19th-century English
folk song, originally from Northumberland
(as can be deduced from the dialect in the song and the references in it to the village
s of Seghill
and Seaton Delaval
).
It is not entirely clear how old the song is, although it is thought to have been written either in the late 19th or early 20th century. Richard Thompson, who released a version of it in 2006, dates it as early as the first half of the 19th century. However, if this was true, it must have been translated into more modern English, as the lyrics would not have been part of the language of 19th-century Northumberland.
The lyrics, which are traditional
, depict the determined, uncompromising stance against strikebreaker
s adopted by unionized strikers - the term blackleg being an older word for scab. (The mining sector in the UK was always heavily unionised and strikes could cause bitterness
both within and between pit communities, but more often gave rise to expressions of solidarity such as sympathy strikes by other pits, material assistance such as food, and a feeling of belonging to a proud and powerful community of workers.)
For a period in the 1960s and 1970s, the song's uncompromising lyrics
were appreciated for their directness and militancy by many young people radicalized by the student rebellions of 1968, and the song was often sung at folk music societies. The hard-fought UK miners' strike (1984-1985) showed how relevant the song still was as a depiction of the anger and detestation felt by strikers against strike-breakers who continued to work and thus showed more solidarity with the mine owners and government than with their fellow-workers. (Among unionized workers strikebreaking is considered as hostile a violation of trust as mutiny and treason are considered by governments and military leaders.)
Thereafter, playing the song became a political statement in support of the strike and some folk clubs avoided the song due to its description of violence
used by others than the army and the police. This was counterbalanced by an increase in bands that played the song. The best known version was by Steeleye Span
, who played the song in Nottingham
-- an area that had seen a lot of strikebreaking
violence during the strike—in 1986.
Other artists to have played this song include the Ian Campbell Folk Group, the High Level Ranters, Highland Reign, the Houghton Weavers, Broom Bezzums, Ryan's Fancy
,the New Minstrel Revue, Blue Horses, New Celeste, FinTan, Duo Noir, Cameron Muir, Smoky Finish and Clatterbone, Len Wallace, John Maggs, Seven Nations
, Sol Invictus (band)
, Louis Killen, the Angelic Upstarts
as well as Richard Thompson, Ewan MacColl
, Dick Gaughan
, Aengus Finnan, Jon Boden, Maddy Prior, Andy Wainwright,John Hewitt, The Inchtabokatables
, Banjax
, Eric Fish
, Settlers Match and David Wrench
with The Black Sheep.
It's in the evening after dark,
When the blackleg miner creeps to work,
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner!
Well he takes his tools and doon he goes
To hew the coal that lies below,
There's not a woman in this town-row
Will look at the blackleg miner.
Oh, Seghill is a terrible place.
They rub wet clay in the blackleg's face,
And around the heaps they run a foot race,
To catch the blackleg miner!
So, dinna gan near the Delaval mine.
Across the way they stretch a line,
To catch the throat and break the spine
Of the dirty blackleg miner.
They grab his duds and his pick as well,
And they hoy them down the pit of hell.
Doon ye go, and fare ye well,
You dirty blackleg miner!
So join the union while you may.
Don't wait till your dying day,
For that may not be far away,
You dirty blackleg miner!
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
folk song, originally from Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
(as can be deduced from the dialect in the song and the references in it to the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s of Seghill
Seghill
Seghill is a small village located on the Northumberland border which is the county boundary between Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. Seghill is situated between the villages of Seaton Delaval and Annitsford, about north of Newcastle upon Tyne....
and Seaton Delaval
Seaton Delaval
Seaton Delaval is a village in Northumberland, England, with a population of 4,371. It is the largest of the five villages in Seaton Valley and is the site of Seaton Delaval Hall, the masterpiece completed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1727....
).
It is not entirely clear how old the song is, although it is thought to have been written either in the late 19th or early 20th century. Richard Thompson, who released a version of it in 2006, dates it as early as the first half of the 19th century. However, if this was true, it must have been translated into more modern English, as the lyrics would not have been part of the language of 19th-century Northumberland.
The lyrics, which are traditional
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
, depict the determined, uncompromising stance against strikebreaker
Strikebreaker
A strikebreaker is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the trade union dispute, but rather hired prior to or during the strike to keep the organisation running...
s adopted by unionized strikers - the term blackleg being an older word for scab. (The mining sector in the UK was always heavily unionised and strikes could cause bitterness
Resentment
Resentment is the experience of a negative emotion felt as a result of a real or imagined wrong done. Etymologically, the word originates from French "ressentir", re-, intensive prefix, and sentir "to feel"; from the Latin "sentire"...
both within and between pit communities, but more often gave rise to expressions of solidarity such as sympathy strikes by other pits, material assistance such as food, and a feeling of belonging to a proud and powerful community of workers.)
For a period in the 1960s and 1970s, the song's uncompromising lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
were appreciated for their directness and militancy by many young people radicalized by the student rebellions of 1968, and the song was often sung at folk music societies. The hard-fought UK miners' strike (1984-1985) showed how relevant the song still was as a depiction of the anger and detestation felt by strikers against strike-breakers who continued to work and thus showed more solidarity with the mine owners and government than with their fellow-workers. (Among unionized workers strikebreaking is considered as hostile a violation of trust as mutiny and treason are considered by governments and military leaders.)
Thereafter, playing the song became a political statement in support of the strike and some folk clubs avoided the song due to its description of violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
used by others than the army and the police. This was counterbalanced by an increase in bands that played the song. The best known version was by Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
, who played the song in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
-- an area that had seen a lot of strikebreaking
Union of Democratic Mineworkers
The Union of Democratic Mineworkers is a British trade union not recognised by the TUC or the Labour party for coal miners, which is based in Nottinghamshire, England...
violence during the strike—in 1986.
Other artists to have played this song include the Ian Campbell Folk Group, the High Level Ranters, Highland Reign, the Houghton Weavers, Broom Bezzums, Ryan's Fancy
Ryan's Fancy
Ryan’s Fancy was a musical group active from the 1960s until the 1980s, all three of whose members were Irish immigrants to Canada.-Early years:...
,the New Minstrel Revue, Blue Horses, New Celeste, FinTan, Duo Noir, Cameron Muir, Smoky Finish and Clatterbone, Len Wallace, John Maggs, Seven Nations
Seven Nations
Seven Nations is a Celtic rock band that formed in New York City in 1993. The name comes from the seven Celtic nations, including Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Galicia...
, Sol Invictus (band)
Sol Invictus (band)
Sol Invictus is an English neofolk and neoclassical group fronted by Tony Wakeford. Wakeford has been the sole constant member of the group since its inception, although numerous musicians have contributed and collaborated with Wakeford under the Sol Invictus moniker over the years.-Overview:For...
, Louis Killen, the Angelic Upstarts
Angelic Upstarts
Angelic Upstarts are an English punk rock/Oi! band formed in South Shields in 1977. The band espoused an anti-fascist and socialist working class philosophy, and have been associated with the skinhead subculture...
as well as Richard Thompson, Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
, Dick Gaughan
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
, Aengus Finnan, Jon Boden, Maddy Prior, Andy Wainwright,John Hewitt, The Inchtabokatables
The Inchtabokatables
The Inchtabokatables were a German band active from 1991 to 2002. The band only played on classical instruments . The band was known for their no guitar policy...
, Banjax
Banjax
The word "banjax" is common Irish slang for "broken", "ruined" or "destroyed".Verb: To ruin or destroy.Noun: A mess or undesirable situation made as a result of incompetence.-References in literature:...
, Eric Fish
Eric Fish
Eric Fish , singer of Subway to Sally and solo artist.-History:Eric's first musical merit was that of reaching the finale of a DDR singer/songwriter competition in 1988. The same year he founded Catriona, a folk band based in Königs Wusterhausen, together with Jan Klemm and Marek Kalbus...
, Settlers Match and David Wrench
David Wrench
David Wrench is a singer, musician and studio producer/ sound engineer from Anglesey, Wales. His music has ranged from camp synth pop to Doom inspired Folk....
with The Black Sheep.
Lyrics
It's in the evening after dark,
When the blackleg miner creeps to work,
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner!
Well he takes his tools and doon he goes
To hew the coal that lies below,
There's not a woman in this town-row
Will look at the blackleg miner.
Oh, Seghill is a terrible place.
They rub wet clay in the blackleg's face,
And around the heaps they run a foot race,
To catch the blackleg miner!
So, dinna gan near the Delaval mine.
Across the way they stretch a line,
To catch the throat and break the spine
Of the dirty blackleg miner.
They grab his duds and his pick as well,
And they hoy them down the pit of hell.
Doon ye go, and fare ye well,
You dirty blackleg miner!
So join the union while you may.
Don't wait till your dying day,
For that may not be far away,
You dirty blackleg miner!