"Coco Nut River" Copyright Control 2012.

A poignant song about the perils of working in construction for Irish navvies. Many were employed on 'the lump', ie no insurance. A small payment might be made by an employer to a worker who was injured or to their family if killed in a workplace accident rather than having to pay for workers' insurance. 

Both my uncles Sonny and Michael worked 'on the buildings'. Thankfully they both emerged unscathed although Sonny had to stop working on the 'new Victoria line' because he developed breathing problems. Workers had to go through an airlock in some parts of the construction which he couldn't handle.

My Cover Of Building Up & Tearing England Down By Dominic Behan

Catherine's AIr

Catherine's Air

I wrote this when I was in a good mood. It's pretty upbeat for the most part. Enjoy.

Beneath a Desert Sky

The Ballad of Benjamin Lay co-written by historian Marcus Rediker and Dave Clinch was born out of the story of one of slavery’s earliest and most redoubtable opponents, The Fearless Benjamin Lay, The Quaker Dwarf Who Became the First Revolutionary Abolitionist and the title of Marcus's biography.

The song crystallises the extraordinary life of Benjamin Lay, shepherd, sailor, guerrilla activist, auto didact, author, vegan and educator. No doubt he was a difficult man, but he cannot be faulted for his implacable opposition to slavery. His actions paved the way for the 19th Century abolitionists in North America and in Britain. Sadly, he was expelled from the Quakers during his lifetime following his abolitionist activities

In 2018 he was returned to the Quaker fold, a poignant coda to the publication of Marcus Rediker's remarkable narrative.

www.versobooks.com/blogs/3496-radi…279-years-later

My Cover Of Building Up & Tearing England Down By Dominic Behan

thepipercallsproject

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