“The Four-Loom Weaver”
Description
Singer, a weaver, laments hard times -- his clothes are worn out, his furniture repossessed, his family starved and keeping alive by eating boiled nettles. His wife states that if she had clothes to wear she would go to London and confront the wealthy
Notes
The period 1819-1820, following the Napoleonic Wars, brought unemployment and starvation to much of the English working class. - PJS
According to MacColl-Shuttle, this is attributed to "John o' Greenfield." - RBW
Recordings
- A. L. Lloyd, "The Poor Cotton Wayver" (on IronMuse1)
- Ewan MacColl, "The Four Loom Weaver" (on Lomax41, LomaxCD1700, LomaxCD1741) (on IronMuse2)
References
- MacColl-Shuttle, pp. 4-5, "The Four Loom Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, FOURLOOM*
- Roud #937
- BI, DTfourlo