Songs

The songs are referenced by page numbers.

4. The Four Loom Weaver (Roud 937)
   taken down from Beckett Whitehead of Delph, near Oldham, Lancashire, attributed to John o’ Greenfield, jnr., weaver and balladmonger
5. I Like to Be There
   from the singing of Eliza Bolton, Weaver, of Oldham, Lancashire, contributed by Joan Littlewood
6. Fourpence a Day (Roud 2586; TYG 107)
   from the singing of John Gowland, retired lead miner of Middleton-in-Teesdale, Yorkshire
7. I’m Champion at Keepin’ ‘em Rolling
   words by Ewan MacColl, tune The Limerick Rake
8. Moses of the Mail
   collated from three versions collected at Newton Heath Loco Shed, Manchester.
   Moses was the nickname of Henry Poyser, engine driver on the Manchester-Warringtlon run in the ’80s.
10. The Wark o’ the Weavers (Roud 374)
    from the singing of David Johnston of Cupar, Fifeshire
11. The Gresford Disaster (Roud 3089)
    from A.L. Lloyd’s Come All Ye Bold Miners
12. Heroes, British Heroes
    from the singing of Basher Marshall of Winngron Co. Durham
14. The Durham Strike (Roud V46415)
    from A.L. Lloyd’s Come All Ye Bold Miners
15. The Collier’s Rant (Roud 1366)
    from A.L. Lloyd’s Come All Ye Bold Miners
16. The Coal-Owner and the Pitman’s Wife (Roud 44465)
    from A.L. Lloyd’s Come All Ye Bold Miners
17. Cosher Bailey’s Engine (Roud 4830)
    from John B. Davies of Treorthcy, South Wales, contributed by Alan Lomax
19. The Iron Horse (Roud 5834; G/D 2:291)
    from Dundee Loco Shed, collated with versions in Ford’s Vagabond Songs
20. Poor Paddy Works on the Railway (Roud 208)
    first version from Albert Gillmore of Borkenhead, second version from Hellefield Loco Shed, collated with fragment from Newton Heath Loco Shed, Manchester
22. Cannily, Cannily
    words and music by Ewan MacColl
23. To the Weaver’s Gin Ye Go (Roud V22409)
    words by Robert Burns, based on an old song
24. The Collier’s Bonnie Lassie (Roud 8410)
    from Cunningham’s Songs of Scotland
25. The Best Little Doorboy
    from the singing of Jack Randall, contributed by Alan Lomax
26. Hot Asphalt (Roud 2134)
    from the singing of ‘Baldy’ Thomson, railwayman, of Dundee, last two verses from William Miller of Stirling
28. The Firefighter’s Song
    words by Ewan MacColl, tune Boston City
30. The Fireman’s Not For Me
    words and music by Ewan MacColl

Musicians

Ewan MacColl: vocals;
Peggy Seeger: banjo, guitar

Tracks

Side 1

1. The Wark of the Weavers (Roud 374) (3.13)
2. The Blantyre Explosion (Roud 1014; Laws Q35) (2.32)
3. Moses of the Mail (1.38)
4. Fourpence a Day (Roud 2586; TYG 107) (1.15)
5. Champion at Keepin’ ‘em Rolling
6. The Four Loom Weaver (Roud 937) (2.51)
7. The Plodder Seam

Side 2

8. Cosher Bailey’s Engine (Roud 4830)
9. The Gresford Disaster (Roud 3089) (2.21)
10. Cannily, Cannily (1.47)
11. The Coal-Owner and the Pitman’s Wife (Roud 44465) (3.30)
12. Poor Paddy Works on the Railway (Roud 208) (2.39)

All tracks trad. arr. Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger except
Tracks 3, 5, 7, 10 Ewan MacColl

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Alistair Banfield for one of the Shuttle and Cage cover pictures.

Musicians

Ewan MacColl: vocals;
Peggy Seeger: banjo, guitar

Tracks

Side 1

1. The Song of the Iron Road (3.12)
2. Droylsden Wakes (Roud 3290) (2.38)
3. The Calton Weaver (Roud 883; G/D 3:603; Henry H745) (2.12)
4. Twenty-One Years
5. The Best Little Door Boy (Roud 24060)
6. Oh, Dear Me (The Jute Mill Song) (Roud 2585) (1.17)
7. Will Caird (1.26)

Side 2

8. The Iron Horse (1.53)
9. The Durham Strike (Roud V46415)
10. The Collier Laddie (Roud 3787; G/D 5:991) (5.21)
11. The Colour Bar Strike
12. The Swan-Necked Valve

Tracks 2-3, 5, 10 trad. arr. Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger except
Tracks 1 Ewan MacColl arr. Peggy Seeger;
Tracks 4 Ewan MacColl;
Track 6 words Mary Brooksbank, music Ewan MacColl;
Tracks 7, 12 Alex Russell;
Track 8 Charles Balfour (1848);
Track 9 Tommy Armstrong;
Track 11 words Charlie Maye, music Ewan MacColl

Acknowledgements

Thank you very much to Ray Templeton for the second album cover picture.

This is a compilation of 16 tracks from two 10" LPs of the 1950’s, Shuttle and Cage and Second Shift.

Musicians

Ewan MacColl: vocals;
Peggy Seeger: banjo, guitar, mandolin

Tracks

Side 1

1. The Wark of the Weavers (Roud 374) (3.13)
2. Droylsden Wakes (Roud 3290) (2.38)
3. The Four Loom Weaver (Roud 937) (2.51)
4. The Calton Weaver (Roud 883; G/D 3:603; Henry H745) (2.12)
5. Oh, Dear Me (The Jute Mill Song) (Roud 2585) (1.17)
6. The Coal-Owner and the Pitman’s Wife (Roud 44465) (3.30)
7. Fourpence a Day (Roud 2586; TYG 107) (1.15)
8. The Gresford Disaster (Roud 3089) (2.21)
9. Will Caird (1.26)

Side 2

10. The Iron Horse (1.53)
11. Poor Paddy Works on the Railway (Roud 208) (2.39)
12. Cannily, Cannily (1.47)
13. The Song of the Iron Road (3.12)
14. The Blantyre Explosion (Roud 1014; Laws Q35) (2.32)
15. The Collier Laddie (Roud 3787; G/D 5:991) (5.21)
16. Moses of the Mail (1.38)

All tracks trad. arr. Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger except
Tracks 3, 12 Ewan MacColl;
Track 5 words Mary Brooksbank, music Ewan MacColl;
Track 9 Alex Russell;
Track 10 Charles Balfour (1848);
Track 13 Ewan MacColl arr. Peggy Seeger

Tracks 1, 3, 6-8, 11-12, 14, 16 are from Shuttle and Cage (10T13, 1957);
Tracks 2, 4-5, 9-10, 13, 15 are from Second Shift (10T25, 1958)