Canzone scritta da Mary Brooksbank nel suo libro “Sidlaw Breezes” (1966), la raccolta di poesie e canzoni sulla dura vita delle lavoratrici nei filatoi di Dundee, Scozia.
Nei filatoi di Dundee degli anni 40 – ai tempi della gioventù di Mary, si lavorava per 10 ore di fila.
“The life of the women workers of Dundee right up to the thirties was … a living hell of hard work and poverty. It was a common sight to see women, after a long ten-hour-day in the mill, running to the stream wash-houses with the family washing. They worked up to the last few days before having their bairns. Often they would call in at the calenders from their work and carry home bundles of sacks to sew. These were paid for at the rate of 5 pence for 25, 6 pence for a coarser type of sack. Infant and maternal mortality in Dundee was the highest in the country.” (testimonianza di Mary Brooksbank). Terre celtiche
Non è stato semplice tradurre il testo essendoci molti nomi specifici di un attività lavorativa di cui poco conoscevo.
La canzone è una sorta di riassunto biografico o comunque uno spaccato di vita vera
[1920s]
Canzone scritta da Mary Brooksbank (1897-1978), operaia tessile, sindacalista e militante socialista originaria di Aberdeen, Scozia. Membro del partito comunista inglese, negli anni 20 e 30 passò diverso tempo nelle regie galere per via della sua militanza politica. Nel 36 o 37 fu espulsa dal partito per aver detto pubblicamente che Stalin era un brutale fascista e un assassino di massa.
Il testo – ripreso da Mudcat Café – si trova nella raccolta poetica intitolata “Sidlaw Breezes”, pubblicata nel 1966.
Interpretata da moltissimi artisti, a cominciare dal Ian Campbell Folk Group (“This Is The Ian Campbell Folk Group!”, 1963)
“I have never had any personal ambitions. I have but one: to make my contribution to destroy the capitalist system.” Mary Brooksbank.
“The life of the women workers of Dundee right up to the thirties was ... a living hell of hard work and poverty. It was... (continuer)
Prima ancora del Ian Campbell Folk Group fu Ewan MacColl a interpretare e rendere popolarissima questa canzone. Il titolo era semplicemente "Oh, Dear Me"
Da "Second Shift", con Peggy Seeger, 1958
O, dear me, the mill is running fast
And we poor shifters canna get nae rest
Shifting bobbins(1) coarse and fine
They fairly make you work for your ten and nine(2)
O, dear me, I wish this day was done
Running up and doon the Pass(3) is nae fun
Shiftin’, piecin’, spinning warp(4), weft(5) and twine(6)
Tae feed and clothe ma bairnie offa ten and nine
O, dear me, the warld is ill-divided
Them that works the hardest are the least provided
But I maun bide(7) contented, dark days or fine
There’s nae much pleasure living offa ten and nine
Nei filatoi di Dundee degli anni 40 – ai tempi della gioventù di Mary, si lavorava per 10 ore di fila.
“The life of the women workers of Dundee right up to the thirties was … a living hell of hard work and poverty. It was a common sight to see women, after a long ten-hour-day in the mill, running to the stream wash-houses with the family washing. They worked up to the last few days before having their bairns. Often they would call in at the calenders from their work and carry home bundles of sacks to sew. These were paid for at the rate of 5 pence for 25, 6 pence for a coarser type of sack. Infant and maternal mortality in Dundee was the highest in the country.” (testimonianza di Mary Brooksbank).
Terre celtiche