jean ritchie sings blue diamond mines

[rastaman24211]

@BreaghDragon what are you talking about? coal is blue diamonds? and second of all why on earth would you bring a torch into a coal mine?

[LoneTinaja]

During her early folk singing days a gal named

Janis Joplin used to cover some of Jean Ritchie's

tunes.Janis was a big admirer of Jean.

[MyMoppet52]

I've always heard this as bluegrass. This version is absolutely haunting. My grandpa was one of the first to get 'black lung' benefits. Back then they still had to fight. It was a new illness and the mine owners didn't want to pay. I still cringe whenever I hear of a mining accident anywhere in the world. I know how hard it was for my family in West Virginia. Miners are not remembered much until there IS an accident. God bless them and their families. Thanks for this lovely song.

[Astrodan2600]

I love this enough said

[steveorama1978]

I work for blue diamond coal, in leatherwood KY, the same as this song.

[regiberry]

I play this song Bluegrassy!

I love to sing this powerful song!

Thank you Jean for your many gifts to Humanity (mankind!)

[MrVenison]

I was born at Blue Diamond on First Creek six miles from Hazard. Doc Wagers delivered me at home. I attended 8 years the elementary school. My dad, the late Charley Turner drilled coal and his brother Willie set the dynamite. We lived in Boarding House Holler. I believe this great song was about a different Blue Diamond mine.

[suprsnips]

Brings back memories, I grew up in Harlan County, Ky

[lmp98]

@suprsnips me too............. 

[shas1814]

I used to work in the Gunn-Quealy mines

beneath Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Very dangerous, no respect or concern for the workers.

Thank you, Jean, for telling it like it is.

And thank you to all the brave men and women

who have worked to make life better for the worker.

[mrskeets52]

Boy if you ain't been in the bowels of the earth, this is just a song. 40 years underground I have seem men die from the lung sucking air till the last breath. I brought my brothers out some alive some not, roof falls rib rolls. So when you know s omething you can speak untill then keep your teeth together and listen and learn!

[thcthc]

Much Respect From a Grandson of Many generations of Miners from across the atlantic, from Ex Yugoslavia.

[LoveMe4meLove]

my grandfather choked to death on coal dust in Western Kentucky coal mines.

As well as my father w two bronze stars in combat

for me to have a better life, !! so be careful who you call a redneck.

Your world would be much different without these people

[wlknstk]

I saw my first dulcimer in the summer of 1970, I made my frist dulcimer that summer too. I bought Jeans book Dulcimer People and studied it. Jeans books were my insperation to build the mountain instruments. I went into the army in 1973 and met Jean and George in Washington DC at the folk music fest that year. Jeans music played a major roll in my life. I went on to teach dulcimer building and cigar box guitar building and have been for the last 30 years. Thank you Jean. Larry McPheeters

[IRuthLove]

@wlknstk

Wow! That's amazing.

[wlknstk]

Jean and George this is my favorite recording. When I heard you sing it tears came to my eyes. I grabbed my cigar Box Guitar and proceeded to learn to play it. I love it! Thank you

Larry McPheeters

South Lake Tahoe Ca

[Tony2581]

does anyone know who is singing with Jean in this version of "Blue Diamond Mines"?

[breathittcountyky]

Great song..excellent footage of the miners

My granddaddy worked in the Blue Diamond Coal Mines. I remember many a mornings being woke up by one of his coughing fits.

[lissaritchie]

Just beautiful...

[TomLumpkins]

My father and mother are both from Floyd County Ky and both of my grandfather's were coal miner's and I remember going up in the hills when I was a kid and there was a old store there in Maytown and Momma would give us a dollar and all us kids would go to the store and there would be miners in there and they would be covered up with coal dust. This song realy touches you .Well Done Miss Jean..If you ever get over here around Clarksville Tenn , I'm going to come and listen to you..Tom

[maroon10typhoon]

My Great-Grandfather used to work in Blue Diamond, he ran a service station. People called him Red.

[dhomhnuillh]

About 12 years ago Jean came to Tacoma Washington and headlined in a musical performance of Appalachian music, song and dance. She was sick all week but came to rehearsals and made our 5 shows without complaint. My family is from Louisa Kentucky and when someone told her that, she graciously took time to talk with me and autograph one of my dulcimers. I will always cherish singing with her and listening to her dulcimer playing (I got to bring it to her on stage each night :-) Thank you Jean.

[sgilreaths]

I was a Kentucky underground coal miner for 14 years. One morning we came out of the mine and there was a sign on the door that read....."NO WORK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE"! Well, that was the end of my coal mining days. Blue Diamond Coal Company, in Stearns Kentucky shut'er down in 1987. I work in a different job now, but I am still a miner at heart. God bless the coal miners.

[flossiekat]

I don't think so and I take offense to you using this video to market your junk. Peddle it to yankees who may not know any better. Jean is the real thang, I doubt you are.

[susanbrumfield]

Oh, come on. Seriously! Jean Ritchie is very modest, but nothing beats these recordings of her singing her own songs, with the videos and photos. . . unless it's hearing her sing them in person. Jean's music is the real thing, which is why so many singers cover her songs. Let's hear more from you, Jean!

[ghii333]

Another of Jean Ritchie's haunting songs. The first one I heard was the West Virginia Mine diaster. It left me stunned, enthralled, captivated, above all haunted. These songs of hers are so haunting. It transport one to a place unimaginable, moving and haunting. The quality of her voice combined with the photographic genuis of George Pickow transports one to another world, literally to another world, magical with its sceneries and often sad and poignant like this one.

[georgepickow]

I agree with you, but this is actually not a contest- it's just the author-composer singing her own song. Best, Jean Ritchie

(George Pickow's wife)

[1Lawman104]

kentucky redneck asked me to tell you that he didn't mean no offense and he appreciates the listing..

[bangwezl]

In the mines, in the mines, in all the damn mines, we'll fight and we'll win some day...

[MacktheHack2]

I found this because I have a version of this song by Domestic Science Club. And I always thought that was a nice version, and the harmonies are really good.

But hearing this I have to say the original version is SO much more powerful. Just listen to those lyrics and, ohmygosh, that voice. Jean Ritchie is truly a treasure.

[regiberry]

What a powerful song. Blue Diamond Mines.

30 years ago I met an old miner, Nimrod Workman, singing this song at the San Diego Folk Festival. He was ancient and sang this with all his body and soul. I never forgot it.

Well I've met Jean Ritchie, the Queen of the Dulcimers and a real American Musical Living Treasure!

I've been singing this song for about 30 years myself and play it often at Bluegrass Festivals.

Jean Ritchie is a helluva songwriter!

[thimoneus]

Jean Ritchie, Joan Baez, and Joni Mitchell are to the voice what Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson, and Jimmy Page are to the guitar-- the best there is, and style with so much personality it is like a very distinct flavor that had to have been written in the stars.

[tonyoppegard]

You're the best, Jean! Thank you for your wonderful music throughout the years!

[ronistone]

My father also worked in the mines in Hazard. He was a Ritchie, too. Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute to Jean Ritchie and the Blue Diamond miners.

[apronlow]

oh my god this is so moving and important. what footage. thank you.

[k4gap]

Bless you for putting this video on the net. I am from Hazard and my grandfather worked in those mines.

[AubreyAtwater]

George Pickow and Jean Ritchie have always made a powerful team with his film/photography and her music. What a beautiful, powerful, and personal way to tell an important story.

[dread66mon]

Oh, this version is much better, George and Jean! I'm glad you re-visited this - the scope of the production supports the imagery more powerfully. Though I have to say that the previous music track had a solitary poignancy to it - so much intensity in the visuals with the small, quiet rendition of the tune really worked a different kind of magic. (But I like this one more.)