Uh, oh! Comin' up hard!
Way back yonder in Tennessee, they leased the convicts out.
They worked 'em in the coal mines against free labor stout;
Free labor rebelled against it. To win it took some time.
But while the lease was in effect, they made 'em rise and shine.
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Every Monday morning they've got 'em out on time.
March 'em down to Lone Rock, said to look into that mine.
March you down to Lone Rock, said to look into that hole
Very last word the captain say, "You better get your coal."
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
The beans they are half done, the bread is not so well.
The meat it is as burnt up and the coffee's black as heck.
But when you get your task done, you'll gladly come to call.
Anything you'd get to eat it taste good, done or raw.
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
The bank boss is a hard man, a man you all know well.
And if you don't get your task done, he's gonna give you hallelujah!
Carry you to the stockade, and it's on the floor you'll fall.
Very next time they call on you, you bet you'll have your coal.
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Way back yonder in Tennessee, they leased the convicts out.
They worked 'em in the coal mines against free labor stout;
Free labor rebelled against it. To win it took some time.
But while the lease was in effect, they made 'em rise and shine.
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Every Monday morning they've got 'em out on time.
March 'em down to Lone Rock, said to look into that mine.
March you down to Lone Rock, said to look into that hole
Very last word the captain say, "You better get your coal."
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
The beans they are half done, the bread is not so well.
The meat it is as burnt up and the coffee's black as heck.
But when you get your task done, you'll gladly come to call.
Anything you'd get to eat it taste good, done or raw.
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
The bank boss is a hard man, a man you all know well.
And if you don't get your task done, he's gonna give you hallelujah!
Carry you to the stockade, and it's on the floor you'll fall.
Very next time they call on you, you bet you'll have your coal.
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
inviata da Dead End - 27/9/2012 - 08:08
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Testo trovato sul blog Where Dead Voices Gather: The Anthology of American Folk Music Project
Uncle Dave Macon
Un’altra canzone sui Coal Creek Troubles scoppiati nel Tennessee tra il 1891 e il 1892, quando per contrastare uno sciopero dei lavoratori, le compagnie minerarie e lo Stato fecero ricorso ai “convicts leased out”, i “detenuti in affitto”. Scoppiò un bel casino, come potete leggere nell’introduzione alla canzone appena citata, anche perché all’epoca i lavoratori lottavano per i propri sacrosanti diritti armi in pugno, non come ora che vanno a mani nude a prendersi un sacco di botte dalla polizia ogni volta che mettono il naso fuori per protestare!
A differenza del brano di Jilson Setters, che racconta lo scontro dalla parte dei minatori liberi, questo dello Zio Dave Macon - musicista di talento e personaggio estroso conosciuto anche come “The Dixie Dewdrop” o come “Grandfather of Country Music” - prende spunto dalla Coal Creel War (citata nella prima strofa) per parlare invece della dura vita dei detenuti le cui braccia – che fosse nelle miniere o nelle “chain gang” adibite alla costruzione di strade e ferrovie - venivano affittate a basso costo dallo Stato ai padroni così da eternare il sistema schiavistico soppresso dopo la Guerra Civile e tenere costantemente sotto scacco i lavoratori liberi e le loro organizzazioni sindacali.