Tunes Tuesday: Blackleg Miner
Blackleg Miner is a traditional song from the northeast of England. Most folklorists trace the songs’ origin to nineteenth century labor battles. More recently, the song was performed to support the National Union of Mineworkers during their historic 1984-1985 strike. The video clip below features miners’ wife Lynn Dennett performing her version for the 1990 documentary From The Shadows of Power, directed by Jean Donohue. An excerpt of her song was included in soundtrack of the After Coal documentary, and the lyrics appear in the After Coal book. Scroll down for other versions of this traditional song performed by Richard Thompson as well as The Decembrists. Black Leg Miner from AfterCoal on Vimeo. Richard Thompson Offa Rex (members of The Decemberists)