303. Springhill Mine Disaster (Peggy Seeger & Ewan MacColl)

[nolicnotrut]

You're a 'mine' of information, Raymond.

(Whoops - another unintended pun!)

I had no idea that this disaster occurred within living memory. I always thought it was a traditional song, relating to some 19th-century incident. Quite rightly, the song has entered the 'folk tradition'. I believe that Ewan MacColl would have forgiven me for my misinformation. He had the rare talent of making everything sound traditional.

You convey the narrative brilliantly.

[raymondcrooke]

@nolicnotrut Even to the extent of changing his name from Jimmie Miller, presumably to sound more traditionally Scottish!  Certainly many of his songs have become part of the folk repertoire.

[asbpab1966]

@nolicnotrut 1958 was a terrible year for Canada. On the opposite end of the country, in Vancouver, was the Second Narrows Bridge collapse as told in the song, "Steel Men."

[padraigpurseal]

Thank you Ray a fine rendition of a fine song that should be heard more often

Paddy P.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks. It's a great song by a great writer.

[padraigpurseal]

@raymondcrooke

Actually Ray is it true that Paggy Seeger lost a relation in this tragedy or is that just an old mans tale??

Paddy P.

[raymondcrooke]

I don't think there is any truth in that story. She would have mentioned it on her website if it were true.

[DMEB]

ah this is great!!!!! i love this tune.. have you ever done the lifeboat mona??...

[raymondcrooke]

Not yet!

[rail64]

Very moving. Nice job. I was at the mine a few years ago.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks. I hope I can visit the mine some day.

[FrozenEMT]

@raymondcrooke I've been there. Its very moving.

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you.

[TravisTricky]

I was in this mine last year (its now a museum where you "gear up and go deep"), interesting stuff, I didn't realize the news spread as far as Paris! Thanks for sharing. 5*

[raymondcrooke]

Experiencing it in a museum would be interesting. Doing it day in day out would be another matter. Thanks for your comment, Travis.

[rpennylane7]

I really really like your version of this song.  Wonderful job.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks. I always like Ewan MacColl's songs.

[nepatriot98]

Good man Ray, do you know "scorn not his simplicity"?

[raymondcrooke]

The song by Phil Coulter about his son who had Downs Syndrome - a good song, but I don't sing it.

[nepatriot98]

I am Irish living in Vancouver BC, moving to Nova Scotia soon. Good effort buddy!

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you for listening and commenting.

[rozinhawg]

My grandfather went to work in the Springhill mine when he was 11 years old and stayed 52 years. He would have stayed longer but the bump in '58 closed the pit forever.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for sharing that information.

[stuartbeaton]

I like your stuff generally. I am a fiddler and spent 8 months in Tassie at AMC in Lonnie. I used to go the Irish Murphy's in Hobart and sit in with fiddle for the Sunday sessions. Met Bogle in Adelaide at the General Hindmarsh in North Adelaide. once. Never got to Melburne though.

PAX Stuart

[ajferet]

I must admit, I like this version even better than the Dubliners. About this being common in China, I suppose it comes from being the paradise for the proletariat.

[raymondcrooke]

China is as capitalist as anywhere else these days. Thanks for your comment.

[joeygsmom]

my grandfather worked in a mine when he was 12for God's sake...this song is very compelling, makes me think how lucky I am, not having to do these horrible jobs like these poor men.

[raymondcrooke]

Unfortunately these kinds of events are still quite common here in China.

[joeygsmom]

sorry to hear that

[CottenCandy1884]

PEGGY SUGER!She sang at the mormalrl last night!She sang her song!She is halourise!

[prush1307]

Caleb Rushton was actually My Grandfather, he passed away last tuesday and was trapped in the Bump of 58....I love you Gramps and will miss you forever....RIP

[stuartbeaton]

Well!

I respect forever the miners! My daughter Susan worked for a couple of years at the Springhill Record and lived upstairs from the office. She met Caleb several times. A true gentleman. I wrote my note on his passing as I had seen in the Herald, And I knew the story!

Peace to you Stuart

[raymondcrooke]

A YouTube friend is sending me a couple of CDs of mining songs so I'll probably have some more of these songs to put up in the near future. Thanks for your sharing your experience here.

[stuartbeaton]

Caleb Rushton died yeaserday. PAX

[UbiDuboi]

ewan macColl had nuthin to do with this song, he helped with one verse, christ, he is not god

[gaf69]

live on. bone and blood.

[bushyparter]

i had relatives in that mine,well played:)

[UbiDubi1A]

ITS A PEGGY SEEGER SONG, he helped with one verse, but only helped.

[raymondcrooke]

I agree. That's why her name is first. But he has to be acknowledged as well, as he did contribute to the writing of the song.

[majorMcpharter]

Bone and blood is the price of coal. Most of the mines are now closed down,at least no more generations of young men will have to spend their working lives down a dirty stinking pit.

[raymondcrooke]

Not true of China unfortunately. Some terrible mine accidents happen here quite regularly.

[majorMcpharter]

The mines of springhill are closed down same as nearly all mines in britain.I said most not all.Yes indeed the mines in china have a terrible safety record,that is the price you pay when profit comes before health and safety.China was never a workers paradise,its a brutal state run capitalist dictatorship.

[UbiDubi1A]

the cumberland seam was unstable, in cape breton they exploded. seldom did men come home from a cape breton mine explosion. if ever!

[JeanHenrib]

i like it well have to do a duet jean

[upulagi]

His workmate was screaming because his arm was broken in 3 places.For years after dad retired,when his mate saw him in town, he would shake his hand and thank him for saving his life.Dad knew his mates arm was broken in the rockfall but he had to save his life. there is a tremendous cameraderie down the mine because they depend on each other,

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for your contribution. You may also be interested in "Dark as a Dungeon" which I've also put on YouTube. The writer, Merle Travis, came from a Kentucky coal-mining family. He said of his older brother that "he practically broke every rib in his body in a mine accident and it changed his whole life..."

[upulagi]

I really like the song, I told Dad about it,My dad was a coalminer for 32 years and he told me about the noises and creaking of the roof of the mine, He said there are different sounds and you have to be experienced to know when to run.He was in a few cave ins and rockfalls in his life in the mine, In one, his workmate was buried up to with only his head and arm sticking out,, so dad pulled on his arm with all his strength, the guy was screaming in pain.

[TeamCannabis]

Wow, another incredible tune, reminds me in subject matter of Johnny Cash's Dark as a Dungeon, sometimes I wonder about the inspiration for a song like that, surely he must have heard this! Well done again Raymond and Thank You..Reg

[raymondcrooke]

"Dark as a Dungeon" was written by Merle Travis, whose father and brothers were all coalminers. Johnny Cash helped to popularise it when he sang it at Folsom Prison.

[coolanddark]

fantastic!love this one.your wmt song was great too!could not leave comment for some

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