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Often used as a means of propaganda, to raise money for memorials, to support widows and orphans or to promote new community events or services "Broadside Ballads" were songs printed on broadsheets and sold to the general public. Popular in the North of England and in Ireland this particular song was written by John Stobbs in 1851. In support of the Coal Industry generally it mentions various other trades that the writer believed should be indebted to the business of extracting the black gold. Working with an original copy from the FARNE archive in Gateshead Gareth has written a brand new melody and edited the song to lend a new spark to some traditional words.

lyrics

The Coal Trade

Good people listen while I sing
The source from whence our comforts bring
And may each wind that blows still bring
Success to the coal trade

Who but unmingled pleasure feels
To see our fleets of ships and keels
Newcastle, Sunderland and Shields
May bless the coal trade

Long may our many railways pour
Staple produce to the shore
And may our sailors ne’er deplore
The fall of the coal trade

For should it fail what would ensue
Ruin to thousands, not a few
What would our thriving boroughs do
Without coal trade

Tis that which gives us meal and malt
Without it we could scarce get salt
Our builders soon might call a halt
But for the coal trade

You pitmen lads when on the way
To bring to hand your hard-won pay
Down on your marrow bones and pray
To bless the coal trade

You sailors, masters, owners all
You running fitters great and small
You trimmers pray that woe befall
The foes of the coal trade

You sailor’s wives devoutly pray
That you may never see the day
When rival lines shall steal away
Our blessed coal trade

Not Davis Straits’ nor Greenland oil
Nor all the wealth springs from the soil
Could ever make your pots to boil
As does the coal trade

Then wish success to old King Coal
As long as Tyne does seaward roll
And may our fleets from pole to pole
Carry the coal trade

Lyrics: John Stobbs 1850-60

credits

from North By East, released May 7, 2012
Music & Editing: Gareth Davies-Jones
Researched from FARNE archive
Arrangement: Gareth Davies-Jones
Instumentation: Mandocello, Flute, Vocals, Stomp box

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Jones & Stewart UK

GARETH DAVIES-JONES
Combining Folk, Americana, Roots and Acoustic traditions Irish-born singer-songwriter Gareth Davies- Jones demonstrates an honesty, depth and passion with his beautifully arranged and evocative songs.
CALUM STEWART
A leading instrumentalist in contemporary traditional, British Isles, European and World music, Calum Stewart has established his own unique and appealing style. ... more

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