Guitar, Banjo,
Vocals - Robin
Bass - Barry Weisenfeld
I learned this song when I was 12 and always thought it was a traditional folk song: it had the style elements of a traditional lyric song. I found out later that in fact it is copyrighted by Hedy West, who was my mentor at university. So it is composed, but I believe it is based on traditional folk songs. At any rate, this version has entered into oral tradition, a modern folk song, if you will. Exploitation of young women in factories of the industrial revolution is well documented.
Cotton Mill Girls
Chorus
It’s hard times, Cotton Mill Girls,
Hard times, Cotton Mill Girls
It’s hard times, Cotton Mill Girls, hard times everywhere
I worked in a cotton mill
all of my life
Ain’t got nothing but this Barlow knife
It’s hard times Cotton Mill Girls, It’s hard times everywhere
chorus
In 1915 we heard it said
Move to the country and get ahead
It's hard times Cotton Mill Girls, It’s hard times everywhere
chorus
Us kids worked 14 hours
a day
For 13 cents of measly pay
It’s hard times Cotton Mill Girls, It’s hard times everywhere
chorus
When I die don’t buy
me at all
Just hang me up on the spinning room wall
Pickle my bones in alcohol, it’s hard times everywhere
chorus