Growing up in the same era as you did, i was fortunate to see U2 live, fantastic group even though Bono had recently fallen off a stage and broke his arm, he just had people from the audience come on stage to playthe guitar in his place. I was a big Springteen fanfrom 1979 on but I feel my favorite album/his best work was the Seeger sessions. His verion of some of those work songs was fantastic. I have started listening to more of this music, Woody Guthrie, groups such as Watchtower, Old crow medicine show,Ledbelly,all of the work/‘chaingang’ songs of long ago. Something about that musci that has meaning and a beat that allows you to accomplish your task at hand. My wife recently mentioned how the tool operators in her building, (she handles the social media and marketing for a manufacturer) blares the song black betty everyday. I told her to question them the originof that song and the time frame of when it was written. They were all blown away when they found that its just a cover version of the original by Ledbelly recorded in 1939. It just goes to show that everything remains the same, work to the classics from the 20’s or depression era, they need something to lift their heads up, so do we.
Sorry I have to add one. Today I listened to Israel kamakawiwe’ole’s version of “somewhere over the rainbow” while sawing. Awesome. And goes along with the work songs theme think.
Another classic recording by Alan Lomox is Negro Prison Songs from the Mississippi State Penitentiary. Texas looks like a walk in the park compared to Mississippi and you can hear it in the songs. The fact that the alvum is still available from Amazom tells you something about the truth it conveys
I was at this event. I remember him asking us to sling along and many of us looked around thinking, “Is he serious?”. But then the crowd got into it and it was a nice moment. Also got a chance to speak with you and get my copy of “The Anarchist Tool Chest” signed. Great event. I hope they start them up again!
I like “Take this Hammer,” for a work song. Take my goddam hammer and carry it to the captain. How about “Lose Yourself to Dance,” by Daft Punk but change the lyrics to “Lose Your self to Wood.” Those prison work songs are beautiful and tragic. Beautiful to hear and how they kept certain workers from being singled out. So they slowed the pace of what certain people would work so that they could find protection in numbers! Some probably got singled out anyways. Also how did they know which way the tree was going to fall? And all of them working all around each tree and so close together. Seems like another layer of danger to already harsh conditions.
I'm surprised by your experience with work s songs at factories. I worked as a bricklayer. I am a hummer, and hazing was the response to my humming (especially when I was foreman).
I sing while in the shop. Thanks for the post and the links!
Thanks for sharing. The music is amazing. I agree it’s chilling. Thinking about its origins is chilling too, as are those felling techniques. Yikes. The capacity of humans to survive adversity is incredible. Watching this reminds me of Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
Growing up in the same era as you did, i was fortunate to see U2 live, fantastic group even though Bono had recently fallen off a stage and broke his arm, he just had people from the audience come on stage to playthe guitar in his place. I was a big Springteen fanfrom 1979 on but I feel my favorite album/his best work was the Seeger sessions. His verion of some of those work songs was fantastic. I have started listening to more of this music, Woody Guthrie, groups such as Watchtower, Old crow medicine show,Ledbelly,all of the work/‘chaingang’ songs of long ago. Something about that musci that has meaning and a beat that allows you to accomplish your task at hand. My wife recently mentioned how the tool operators in her building, (she handles the social media and marketing for a manufacturer) blares the song black betty everyday. I told her to question them the originof that song and the time frame of when it was written. They were all blown away when they found that its just a cover version of the original by Ledbelly recorded in 1939. It just goes to show that everything remains the same, work to the classics from the 20’s or depression era, they need something to lift their heads up, so do we.
Sorry I have to add one. Today I listened to Israel kamakawiwe’ole’s version of “somewhere over the rainbow” while sawing. Awesome. And goes along with the work songs theme think.
I always thought that The Lumberjack Song by Monty Python was the quintessential work song.
I was misinformed.
Another classic recording by Alan Lomox is Negro Prison Songs from the Mississippi State Penitentiary. Texas looks like a walk in the park compared to Mississippi and you can hear it in the songs. The fact that the alvum is still available from Amazom tells you something about the truth it conveys
I was at this event. I remember him asking us to sling along and many of us looked around thinking, “Is he serious?”. But then the crowd got into it and it was a nice moment. Also got a chance to speak with you and get my copy of “The Anarchist Tool Chest” signed. Great event. I hope they start them up again!
I’m considering pulling out the D-8 and trying ripping to “Eye of the Tiger.” Might need some different verses.
A lot of sea shanties and sea shanty adjacent tunes would fit. Stan Rogers "Barrett's Privateers", for instance.
https://youtu.be/mQbh7UNCZdc
I like “Take this Hammer,” for a work song. Take my goddam hammer and carry it to the captain. How about “Lose Yourself to Dance,” by Daft Punk but change the lyrics to “Lose Your self to Wood.” Those prison work songs are beautiful and tragic. Beautiful to hear and how they kept certain workers from being singled out. So they slowed the pace of what certain people would work so that they could find protection in numbers! Some probably got singled out anyways. Also how did they know which way the tree was going to fall? And all of them working all around each tree and so close together. Seems like another layer of danger to already harsh conditions.
I'm surprised by your experience with work s songs at factories. I worked as a bricklayer. I am a hummer, and hazing was the response to my humming (especially when I was foreman).
I sing while in the shop. Thanks for the post and the links!
“Keep on Smiling” is always my geaux to.
https://youtu.be/tg0BNTebcbY
Texas is so brutal. Then and now.
I was thinking of The Stroke by Billy Squire ....good for sawing I would think.
For groups singing that give you chicken skin, might I suggest a couple of Choir! Choir! Choir! videos on youtube...
Colin Hay, Overkill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZKAxDoUwE
David Byrne singing Heroes by David Bowie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7HJZPlJn_U
Thanks for sharing. The music is amazing. I agree it’s chilling. Thinking about its origins is chilling too, as are those felling techniques. Yikes. The capacity of humans to survive adversity is incredible. Watching this reminds me of Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
The opening song reminds me of this recorded by I'm With Her.
https://youtu.be/8FK-ZRHx8tU