Heres a virtual movie of the Victorian English Miner "Pit Man" poet Joseph Skipsey reading probanly his best know poem "Get Up !" first published in 1892 in "Songs and Lyrics"

Born March 17, 1832, in Percy, Northumberland, Joseph Skipsey was a colliery worker at seven years of age. He made himself educated, publishing verse in local newspapers until he was gradually able to leave harsh labour behind him. He earned a living as caretaker to schools and colleges. He and his wife Sara Ann Hendley, married in 1854, had eight children. Skipsey had several literary positions: Assistant Librarian, Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society (1863), and custoldian of Shakespeare's birthplace at Stratford-on-Avon (1889-91). He was awarded a annual civil list pension in 1880 for his literary work, which included preparing popular editions of important poets. Skipsey died at Gateshead on Sept. 3, 1903, and was buried in Gateshead Cemetery.

Joseph Skipsey (1832 - September 3, 1903) was a British poet, born near North Shields.

From childhood he worked in the mines. He published a few pieces of poetry in 1859, and soon after left working underground and became caretaker of Shakespeare's house at Stratford-on-Avon. During the last 30 years of his life he published several volumes of poetry, including The Collier Lad and Carols from the Coal Fields; and he edited some volumes for the "Canterbury Poets." Memoir by R. Spence Watson (1908).

Kind Regards

Jim Clark
All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2009

"Get up!"


"GET up!" the caller calls, "Get up!" And in the dead of night,
To win the bairns their bite and sup, I rise a weary wight.

My flannel dudden donn'd, thrice o'er My birds are kiss'd, and then
I with a whistle shut the door, I may not ope again. (less info)