Gone to America - Steeleye Span

[MegaSnoose]

Uncanny X-Men #238 (1988) sent me here... and I''m glad it did.

[GoodVideos4]

I read that there was a penal colony in the USA before the USA became independent. Was then changed to Australia.

[beetsareback]

@GoodVideos4 Look up Jamestown and Queen Elizabeth II...its was British law, if you were poor and houseless it was your duty to settle in oversea camps.

[FinalFallenFantasy]

:( this song always tugs at the heartstrings, neh?

[millsclear]

from: STEELEYE SPAN GONE TO AUSTRALIA TOUR 1975-1984

[athan1145]

75% of whites coming the america before about the middle to latter part of the 1800s were indentured. Indentured servitude was declared illegel in the US in 1885. Then the eastern europeons and medeterainians were allowed in. An interesting book, Souls For Sale, gives first person accounts .

[sanphaka04]

Could just as well been Australia, not the point of song. Love lost. Unfairness.

[rosewoodflower]

very moving! some of my ancestors were transported to the colonies.

[LokiSilverFlame]

@rosewoodflower

I traced my maternal grandfather's fathers back and found William. He and his two sons lived in County Antrim in northern Ireland. The Brits came and took his sons and shipped them to Barbados to do hard labor. Eventually one of the brothers made it to Virginia, though I'm not sure if he was still indentured or being penalized or not.

[curiousgeorge555]

Very nice. Quite moving. ~cg5

(thanks for the send K...)

[atfatw]

andrewsayers, The quote was from a book with that title about pioneer journalist William Steads expose of the white slave trade in england, girls 15 and younger were especially wanted in foreign brothels and the british government corrupt lack of interest.

the book I have was weeded out of our local taxpayer supported library its full title is "THE FIVE POUND VIRGINS' with that english money mark

[mJkenny]

Loons rule!

[musikwoernie1]

Who has the chords of the song ?

[els000000]

marriedA7....July D..Listen G...story A ..tell D...said G.......said A

chorus A7they ...gone D to G America A D..to G ...some A ..Virginia D A7..gone D..America G A7

[ffej980]

white slavery in america...

[exartemarte]

Yes, but not America as any modern American would understand it. This was really slavery in a British penal colony - and it was by no means the worst of them.

[ffej980]

there were places in america where you could be imprisoned and sold at auction into slavery by the local sheriff for not paying your taxes...and this was after america was no longer part of the english empire...the federal authorities stepped in to put a stop this

[adam13weishaupt]

@exartemarte -- But white penal servitude (slavery) continued for some decades after independence from Britain, though it was gradually giving way to black slavery, which was certainly no better.

[Shuna1001]

fantasic thank you SO much

[heavnnnsent]

are the original members of this band still together or are any of them dead?

[chiselset]

Beautiful !!!!

[herbtree25]

this is my all time fave song

[grantzx]

beautiful

[ffruuitube]

it all came to light didn't it ! thousands

[teddyis2fast4you]

best song ever

[teddyis2fast4you]

best song ever

[Hotelechomike]

They played this on their Spring 2008 tour (saw them in UK a week ago).....

[mh605]

Steeleye Span is still a band? I thought they disbanded in the 70's or 80's.

[Hotelechomike]

There is a UK tour mid April - mid May 2009.

Likely to be one towards end 2009 as well.

[Iberianwildwolf]

Maddy is going to Spain this month with Benji Kirkpatrick and Giles Lewin on March 21.

[Xithinar]

Love this song :)