Great work Helen! I lived near Winton too and I used to get told the same as a child by my mother who believed she should never have been hanged. You have exposed a great hypocracy as most people down in Southland believe she should never have been hanged.
This is a great song, done in the tradition of all folks songs..to tell a story. Based on real events and the fictional element that always creep into a good legend, this is a great example of modern story-telling in a song.
1. Helen Henderson deserves THANKS for recording these old stories of herstory (women´s history).
2. I am a member of the first generation where most of the born unwanteds were made to go on existing; and I must tell you that I always envied the dead.
They are out of it, I still hurt.
3. Would you moralizing biblethumpers PLEASE get your physiques away from our reproductive rights!
I do think its pretty gruesome to sing about a murderer of babies. I know all about minnie Dean I grew up in southland lol I would never have wrote a song about it - hey why dont we all write songs about Hitler or Sadam Hussein while we're at it? j/k at least its original although the thought of minnie dead gives me the creeps still.
There was no contraception in Minnie's day, and no welfare payments for unmarried mothers. Rich married men got girls pregnant, and the babies that resulted had to be made to vanish to keep up respectability. Note the line "Here lie the babies nobody wanted." Minnie tried to look after the babies, but many of them died due to poor living conditions. Minnie was made a scapegoat for the hypocrisy and lack of love in the community.
But it is a great song to sing at a C&W club. Do you come from Southland yourself? Helen Henderson grew up near Minnie Dean's grave and the chorus is exactly what her mother said to her when she was naughty, and it is what other Southland mothers said to their children too. And the verses fit in with newspapers reports of the time.
So how do you think the song should be changed to do more justice to the story?
Great work Helen! I lived near Winton too and I used to get told the same as a child by my mother who believed she should never have been hanged. You have exposed a great hypocracy as most people down in Southland believe she should never have been hanged.
MrNiceGuy8615 5 months ago
This is a great song, done in the tradition of all folks songs..to tell a story. Based on real events and the fictional element that always creep into a good legend, this is a great example of modern story-telling in a song.
Fantastic lyrics and music.
'nuff said!
breagle76 9 months ago
1. Helen Henderson deserves THANKS for recording these old stories of herstory (women´s history).
2. I am a member of the first generation where most of the born unwanteds were made to go on existing; and I must tell you that I always envied the dead.
They are out of it, I still hurt.
3. Would you moralizing biblethumpers PLEASE get your physiques away from our reproductive rights!
9valkyrie 1 year ago
Good catchy song, nice looking lady, good band, good luck to her.
peter9801 2 years ago
I do think its pretty gruesome to sing about a murderer of babies. I know all about minnie Dean I grew up in southland lol I would never have wrote a song about it - hey why dont we all write songs about Hitler or Sadam Hussein while we're at it? j/k at least its original although the thought of minnie dead gives me the creeps still.
chopsticksue 3 years ago
Dean*
chopsticksue 3 years ago
There was no contraception in Minnie's day, and no welfare payments for unmarried mothers. Rich married men got girls pregnant, and the babies that resulted had to be made to vanish to keep up respectability. Note the line "Here lie the babies nobody wanted." Minnie tried to look after the babies, but many of them died due to poor living conditions. Minnie was made a scapegoat for the hypocrisy and lack of love in the community.
Kaikopere 2 years ago
you are so right
harley88040 2 years ago
i love it
harley88040 2 years ago
I hope Helen Henderson is never heard of again. This is an atrocious song that doesn't to justice to the story at all.
dxnz 3 years ago
But it is a great song to sing at a C&W club. Do you come from Southland yourself? Helen Henderson grew up near Minnie Dean's grave and the chorus is exactly what her mother said to her when she was naughty, and it is what other Southland mothers said to their children too. And the verses fit in with newspapers reports of the time.
So how do you think the song should be changed to do more justice to the story?
RODADY2 3 years ago
exactly
harley88040 2 years ago
um grow up ok. the song is beautifull :p
harley88040 2 years ago
I hope Helen Henderson is never heard of again. What a terrible song that totally doesn't to justice to the story.
dxnz 3 years ago
minnie dean is my great great grand aunt!!!
oldmuthahubbard 3 years ago
Really? oohh creepy - Do you look like her?
chopsticksue 3 years ago
wtf. who would write a song about this.
0jaydee0 3 years ago
um helen henderson doooooooooooooooo
harley88040 2 years ago
We went looking for her grave in Winton. Apparently its unmarked. No grass is aloud to grow on it and she stand so she can''t rest in peace.
MarzleyBarzley 3 years ago
very well done!!
I go to school in Winton.
love it
kristy0j0stewart 3 years ago
That was a really well put together video. Well done!
lindudes 3 years ago
amazing song:)
Mlakmlak5 3 years ago