jean ritchie sings blue diamond mines

tells the story of hard times in the coal mines of kentucky. Words & music © 1964,1971 Jean Ritchie Geordie Music Publishing Co.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jean
• ritchie
• folk
• dulcimer
• banjo
• kentucky
• mines
• hazard

[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

[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.

[IRuthLove]

@wlknstk

Wow! That's amazing.

[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?

[lmp98]

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

[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.